Improved Carpenter Tools

ABSTRACT

A carpenter tool includes a triangular body having a hypotenuse edge opposite a right corner, a first edge extending between the right corner and the hypotenuse edge, and a second edge extending between the right corner and the hypotenuse edge opposite the first edge. A fence is pivoted to the first edge for movement between first and second positions. In the first position, the fence is normal to the triangular body. In the second position, the fence is coplanar to the triangular body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorU.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/132,075, filed Apr. 7, 2023. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 18/132,075 is a continuation-in-part of andclaims the benefit of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/715,460,filed Apr. 7, 2022, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/132,075 alsoclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/442,110, filedJan. 30, 2023. All of the above-identified applications are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

The present specification relates generally to hand tools, and moreparticularly to carpenter squares.

BACKGROUND

Carpenters and other tradesmen use a variety of tools in their lines ofwork. Some tools are specifically designed for certain jobs, while othertools are useful in a wide range of applications. One tool that isfrequently used is a carpenter's square or carpenter square.

Conventionally, a carpenter square is a triangular piece of plastic ormetal having two short sides extending out from a right corner and alonger hypotenuse side between the two short sides. One of the shortsides has a fence, which is a length of material fixed to the side butaligned normal to the body of the square. The fence thus projectsoutwardly from both sides of the square, which makes it very easy to laythe square against a straight edge of a workpiece and draw lines at aright angle to the straight edge.

The carpenter square is a staple tool in any tradesman's quiver. Yet,all tools are subject to improvement, and the carpenter square has hadrelatively few and minor changes since it was introduced. There is aneed to improve the carpenter square.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment described herein, a carpenter tool includes atriangular body having a hypotenuse edge opposite a right corner, afirst edge extending between the right corner and the hypotenuse edge,and a second edge extending between the right corner and the hypotenuseedge opposite the first edge. A fence is pivoted to the first edge formovement between first and second positions. In the first position, thefence is normal to the triangular body. In the second position, thefence is coplanar to the triangular body.

In embodiments, a carpenter tool has a triangular body which includesopposed first and second body faces, and the fence includes opposedfirst and second fence faces. In the first position, the first body faceis normal to the first and second fence faces, and the second body faceis normal to the first and second fence faces. In the second position,the first body face is coplanar to the first and second fence faces, andthe second body face is coplanar to the first and second fence faces.The tool includes a first set of measurements along the second edge, thefirst set of measurements corresponding to a first zero location definedby the fence in the first position, and a second set of measurementsalong the second edge, the second set of measurements corresponding to asecond zero location defined by the fence in the second position,wherein the second zero location is offset from the first zero location.A hinge assembly pivots the fence to the first edge. The hinge assemblyincludes a notch in one of the triangular body and the fence, and a tabprojecting from the other of the triangular body and the fence,respectively, wherein the tab is mounted in the notch for swingingmovement within the notch between first and second positionscorresponding to the first and second positions of the fence. The tabmoves between a neutral stance and an advanced stance. In the neutralstance, the tab disables movement of the fence between the first andsecond positions, and in the advanced stance, the tab enables movementof the fence between the first and second positions. The tab movesreciprocally between the neutral and advanced stances.

In an embodiment, a carpenter tool includes a triangular body having ahypotenuse edge opposite a right corner, a first edge extending betweenthe right corner and the hypotenuse edge, and a second edge extendingbetween the right corner and the hypotenuse edge opposite the firstedge, a fence pivoted to the first edge for movement between first andsecond positions, and a first set of measurements along the second edge.The first set of measurements correspond to a first zero locationdefined by the fence in the first position, and a second set ofmeasurements along the second edge correspond to a second zero locationdefined by the fence in the second position, wherein the second zerolocation is offset from the first zero location.

In embodiments of the tool, in the first position of the fence, thefence is normal to the triangular body, and in the second position ofthe fence, the fence is coplanar to the triangular body. The triangularbody includes opposed first and second body faces, and the fenceincludes opposed first and second fence faces. In the first position ofthe fence, the first body face is normal to the first fence face, andthe second body face is normal to the second fence face. In the secondposition of the fence, the first body face is coplanar to the firstfence face, and the second body face is coplanar to the second fenceface. A hinge assembly pivots the fence to the first edge. The hingeassembly includes a notch in one of the triangular body and the fence,and a tab projects from the other of the triangular body and the fence,respectively, wherein the tab is mounted in the notch for swingingmovement within the notch between first and second positionscorresponding to the first and second positions of the fence. The tabmoves between a neutral stance and an advanced stance. In the neutralstance, the tab disables movement of the fence between the first andsecond positions, and in the advanced stance, the tab enables movementof the fence between the first and second positions. The tab movesreciprocally between the neutral and advanced stances.

In an embodiment, a carpenter tool includes a body having a first edge,a second edge, and a third edge, wherein the first, second, and thirdedges cooperate to define a perimeter edge of the body. A fence ispivoted to the first edge for movement between first and secondpositions. In the first position, the fence is normal to the body, andin the second position, the fence is coplanar to the body.

In embodiments, the body includes opposed first and second body faces,and the fence includes opposed first and second fence faces. In thefirst position of the fence, the first body face is normal to the firstfence face. In the second position of the fence, the first body face iscoplanar to the first fence face. A first set of measurements is alongthe second edge, and the first set of measurements correspond to a firstzero location defined by the fence in the first position. A second setof measurements is along the second edge and correspond to a second zerolocation defined by the fence in the second position, wherein the secondzero location is offset from the first zero location. A hinge assemblypivots the fence to the first edge. The hinge assembly includes a notchin one of the body and the fence, and a tab projecting from the other ofthe body and the fence, respectively, wherein the tab is mounted in thenotch for movement within the notch between first and second positionswhen the fence moves between the first and second positions. The tabmoves between a neutral stance and an advanced stance. In the neutralstance, the tab disables movement of the fence between the first andsecond positions, and in the advanced stance, the tab enables movementof the fence between the first and second positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are elevation and perspective views of anembodiment of an improved carpenter square having a fence mounted forswinging movement;

FIGS. 2A-2D are enlarged perspective views of the fence of the improvedcarpenter square of FIG. 1A, showing the fence moving between positions;

FIGS. 3A-3C are perspective and plan views of an embodiment of animproved carpenter square having a jig block for laying out a cutpattern on a workpiece;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an improved carpentersquare having a fence mounted for swinging movement;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an improved carpentersquare having a fence mounted for swinging movement;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5 ; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an improved carpentersquare having a fence mounted for swinging movement;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an improved carpenter level having roundand square bubble levels;

FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the round bubble level of FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 9B is a section view of the round bubble level taken along the line9-9 from FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of the square bubble level of FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 10B is a section view of the square bubble level taken along theline 10-10 from FIG. 10A;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are elevation and perspective views of an embodimentof an improved carpenter square having a fence mounted for swingingmovement;

FIGS. 12A-12G are enlarged perspective views of the fence of theimproved carpenter square of FIG. 11A, showing the fence moving betweenpositions and stances;

FIG. 13A is an elevation view of an embodiment of an improved carpentersquare having a fence mounted for swinging movement;

FIGS. 13B-14E are enlarged perspective views of the fence of theimproved carpenter square of FIG. 13A, showing the fence moving betweenstances; and

FIGS. 15A-15C are perspective and elevation views of an embodiment of animproved carpenter square having a jig block for laying out a cutpattern on a workpiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now is made to the drawings, in which the same referencecharacters are used throughout the different figures to designate thesame elements. Briefly, the embodiments presented herein are preferredexemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope,applicability, or configuration of all possible embodiments, but ratherto provide an enabling description for all possible embodiments withinthe scope and spirit of the specification. Description of thesepreferred embodiments is generally made with the use of verbs such as“is” and “are” rather than “may,” “could,” “includes,” “comprises,” andthe like, because the description is made with reference to the drawingspresented. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand thatchanges may be made in the structure, arrangement, number, and functionof elements and features without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe specification. Further, the description may omit certain informationwhich is readily known to one having ordinary skill in the art toprevent crowding the description with detail which is not necessary forenablement. Indeed, the diction used herein is meant to be readable andinformational rather than to delineate and limit the specification;therefore, the scope and spirit of the specification should not belimited by the following description and its language choices.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a carpenter square 10. The square includes a body11 having three edges. The square 10 has: 1) a hypotenuse edge 12opposite a right corner 15; 2) a short first edge 13 extending betweenthe right corner 15 and a first corner 16 formed by and between theshort first edge 13 and the hypotenuse edge 12; and 3) a short secondedge 14 extending between the right corner 15 and a second corner 17formed by and between the short second edge 14 and the hypotenuse edge12. These three edges cooperate to define a perimeter edge 18 of thebody 11 of the square 10 itself.

Pivoted to the first edge 13 is a fence 19. The fence 19 is a roughlyrectangular piece of material coextensive to the first edge 13. Thefence 19 pivots between preferably three indexed positions. In a firstposition of the fence 19, shown in solid line in FIG. 1C, the fence 19is normal to the body 11 in a first direction (into the paper, or awayfrom the reader). In a second position of the fence 19, shown in brokenline in FIG. 1C, the fence 19 is normal to the body 11 in a seconddirection, opposite the first direction (out of the paper, or toward thereader). In a third position, the fence 19 is coplanar to the body 11,as shown in solid line in both FIGS. 1A and 1B.

When the fence 19 is in the first or second positions, a carpenter canlay the fence 19 flat on a surface and against a straight edge and marklines on the surface. The normal arrangement of the fence 19 to the body11 of the square 10 makes quick alignment of the square 10 easy. If thecarpenter desires to lay the body 11 of the square 10 entirely on theworkpiece and at least partially inboard from the straight edge,however, he need only move the fence 19 to the third position, such thatthe fence 19 is aligned coplanar to the body 11 and the entirety of thesquare 10 can be laid flat on the workpiece.

The body 11 of the square 10 is generally triangular, because theperimeter edge 18 generally has three major sides or lengths. The firstand second edges 13 and 14 meet at the right corner 15, and the secondedge 14 and hypotenuse edge 12 meet at the acute second corner 17. Thefirst edge 13 and hypotenuse edge 12 meet at the first corner 16, whichis acute, but is blunted or truncated by a short fourth edge. As such,the perimeter edge 18 technically has four sides or four edges, but thevery short side at the first corner 16 is so small that the three majorsides of the edges 12, 13, and 14 dominate the appearance of the square10 such that the body 11 generally is triangular. In this way, thesquare 10 somewhat peculiarly has a triangular body 11 defined by aperimeter edge 18 with four sides.

The body 11 is preferably constructed from a material or combination ofmaterials with rugged, strong, durable, and hard materialcharacteristics. Preferably, the body 11 is made from metal, hard wood,plastic, or like materials offering these characteristics.

The body 11 has a first face 20 and an opposed second face 21. The faces20 and 21 are flat and parallel to each other, spaced apart by a width Wof the body 11, as shown in FIG. 1B. The faces 20 and 21 are marked witha plurality of indications and measurements. Moreover, slots and slitsare formed through the body 11 entirely from one face 20 through to theother face 21. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, amedial slit 22 extends diagonally through the body 11. The medial slit22 is linear or straight. The medial slit 22 has a first end justinboard from the right corner 15, extends generally at aforty-five-degree angle with respect to both the first and second edges13 and 14, and terminates at an opposed second end well inboard of thehypotenuse edge 12. In other embodiments, the medial slit 22 has othershapes, orientations, and arrangements, and the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1A-1C is not limiting. The medial slit 22 may be useful for makingmarkings on the workpiece below the square 10, but is especially usefulwith a jig block for laying out cut patterns, as is described below.

Two slots, each wider than the medial slit 22, are formed inboard of thefirst and second edges 13 and 14. Referring primarily to FIG. 1A, afirst slot 23 is parallel to and inboard of the first edge 13. The firstslot 23 has opposed major sides 24 and opposed diagonal minor ends 25.The major sides 24 are both parallel to the first edge 13, and the majorside 24 proximate to the first edge 13 is larger than the major side 24distal to the first edge 13. The minor ends 25 are diagonal and directedinward at approximately forty-five degrees, such that the minor end 25proximate the second edge 14 is canted away from the second edge 14 andthe minor end 25 distal to the second edge 14 is canted toward thesecond edge 14. Thus, the first slot 23 has the appearance of anisosceles trapezoid. The first slot 23 is open such that a pencil can bepassed through the first slot 23 to make markings on a workpieceunderneath the first slot 23. Along the major side 24 which is proximatethe first edge 13 of the square 10, the first face 20 is marked withmeasured indicators 26. In this embodiment, the measured indicators 26are inch and half-inch markings, measured from the second edge 14. Sincethe first slot 23 is offset from the second edge 14, the first of themeasured indicators is a two-inch marking. In other embodiments, thefirst slot 23, if existent, has other shapes, orientations, andarrangements.

A second slot 30 is parallel to and inboard of the second edge 14. Thesecond slot 30 has opposed major sides 31 and opposed diagonal minorends 32. The major sides 31 are both parallel to the second edge 14, andthe major side 31 proximate to the second edge 14 is larger than themajor side 31 distal to the second edge 14. The minor ends 32 arediagonal and directed inward at approximately forty-five degrees, suchthat the minor end 32 proximate the first edge 13 is canted away fromthe first edge 13 and the minor end 32 distal to the first edge 13 iscanted toward the first edge 13. Thus, the second slot 30 has theappearance of an isosceles trapezoid. Like the first slot 23, the secondslot 30 is open such that a pencil can be passed through it to makemarkings on a workpiece underneath. In other embodiments, the secondslot 30, if existent, has other shapes, orientations, and arrangements.

Another slot, a hypotenuse slot 33, is formed inboard of the hypotenuseedge 12. The hypotenuse slot 33 is parallel to and inboard of thehypotenuse edge 12. The hypotenuse slot 33 has opposed major sides 34and opposed diagonal minor ends 35. The major sides 34 are both parallelto the hypotenuse edge 12, and the major side 34 proximate to thehypotenuse edge 12 is larger than the major side 34 distal to thehypotenuse edge 12. The minor ends 35 are diagonal and directed inwardat approximately forty-five degrees, such that the minor end 35proximate the first edge 13 is parallel to the first edge 13 and theminor end 35 proximate to the second edge 14 is parallel to the secondedge 14. Thus, the hypotenuse slot 33 has the appearance of an isoscelestrapezoid. The hypotenuse slot 33 is also open such that a pencil can bepassed through it to make markings on a workpiece underneath. Along bothmajor sides 34, the first face 20 is marked with measured indicators 36.In other embodiments, the hypotenuse slot 33, if existent, has othershapes, orientations, and arrangements.

The fence 19 is hinged to the body 11 to move between the three indexedpositions. Although in other embodiments, the fence 19 pivots between analternate number of positions, the embodiment shown here pivots betweenthree for ease and clarity of understanding. After reading thisdescription, one having ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate how the fence 19 moves among an alternate number of positionsin such other embodiments.

The fence 19 has a body 40 which is generally rectangular prismatic andwhich extends between two opposed ends 41 and 42. The ends 41 and 42 areflat and parallel to each other, and both are parallel to the secondedge 14. The body 40 of the fence 19 includes a fence edge 43 extendingbetween the two ends 41 and 42. The fence edge 43 is straight anduninterrupted by notches, projections, divots, or other features whichwould prevent the fence edge 43 from defining a straight line. Oppositethe fence edge 43, the body 40 includes an inner edge 44 directed towardthe first edge 13 of the body 11 of the square 10. Like the first edge13, the inner edge 44 is interrupted by hinge assemblies which couplethe fence 19 to the body 11 of the square 10. Both the first edge 13 andthe inner edge 44 are slightly rounded with fillets or chamfers so thatthe fence 19 smoothly pivots with respect to the body 11 withoutinterruption or catching.

The body 40 of the fence 19 has a first face 45 and an opposed secondface 46. The faces 45 and 46 are flat and parallel to each other, spacedapart by the same width W that defines the width of the body 11 of thesquare 10. When the fence 19 is arranged in its third position, thefirst face 45 of the fence 19 is registered with and coplanar to thefirst face 20 of the body 11, and the second face 46 is registered withand coplanar to the second face 20 of the body 11. The first and secondfaces 45 and 46 are both marked with measured indicators 47 along thefence edge 43. The measured indicators 47 on the first and second faces45 and 46 are the same, starting at the first end 41 and increasing innumber toward the opposed end 42. The fence edge 43 also carriesmeasured indicators 48 which are registered with the measured indicators47. However, while the measured indicators 47 preferably include tick orhash marks as well as numbers, the measured indicators 48 preferablyonly include hash marks due to the limited space available on the fenceedge 43. The carpenter can easily sight the numbers on the adjacentfirst or second face 45 or 46 to identify the measurement.

The fence 19 mounts to the body 11 of the square 10 at preferably twohinge assemblies 50 including structural features and elements on boththe fence 19 and the body 11. Referring now to the enlarged views ofFIGS. 2A-2D, the hinge assembly 50 proximate the second edge 14 isshown. The two hinge assemblies 50 are identical in structure and differonly in location, and as such, the reader will understand that thedescription of this hinge assembly 50 applies equally to the descriptionof the other hinge assembly 50. In other embodiments, there may be feweror more hinge assemblies 50. FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate the opposite side ofthe square 10 from that shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, namely, FIGS. 2A-2D showthe second face 21 instead of the first face 20.

The first edge 13 has rounded chamfers or fillets 51 at both the firstand second faces 20 and 21. The fillets 51 allow the fence 19 to pivotwhen it moves among positions. Inboard of the second edge 14, a notch 52interrupts the first edge 13. The notch 52 is blind and extends into thebody 11 of the square 10, terminating at an inner wall, which extendsbetween two sides 53 and 54 of the notch 52. The notch 52 defines areceiving space complemental to a tab 55 on the fence 19 which fits intothe notch 52.

The tab 55 is an integral, unitary, monolithic projection of the body 40at the inner edge 44 of the fence 19. The tab 55 has two opposed ends 56and 57 normal to the inner edge 44 and an inner edge 58 extendingbetween the ends 56 and 57. Like the inner edge 44 of the fence 19itself, the inner edge 58 is rounded. The distance between the ends 56and 57 is approximately half to two-thirds of the distance between thesides 53 and 54 of the notch 52, and so the tab 55 fits easily withinthe notch 52.

The tab 55 is mounted on a pin or axle 60. Preferably, a bore 61 extendsentirely through the tab 55 between its ends 56 and 57. The axle 60 ismounted between the sides 53 and 54 of the notch 52 and is closelyreceived in the bore 61, such that the tab 55, and the fence 19connected to it, are mounted for pivotal, swinging movement about anaxis defined by the axle 60. A compression spring 62 is fit over theaxle 60 and compressed between the end 56 of the tab 55 and the side 53of the notch 52. The compression spring 62 biases the tab 55 toward theother side 54 of the notch 52, defined as a neutral stance. In theneutral stance, the tab 55 disables movement of the fence 19 among itsthree positions. In the neutral stance, the end 57 of the tab 55 is incontact against the side 54 of the notch 52, as shown in FIG. 2A. In theneutral stance, the fence 19 is maintained in a coextensive alignmentwith the body 11 of the square, as shown in FIG. 1A; the end 41 isregistered with the second edge 14, and the end 42 is registered withthe first corner 16.

While the neutral stance disables movement of the fence 19 among itsthree positions, the tab 55 is moveable out of this neutral stance intoan advanced stance, shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. In the advanced stance,the tab 55 enables movement of the fence 19 among its three positions.To move the fence 19 and tab 55 out of the neutral stance and into theadvanced stance, the carpenter simply grasps the body of the fence 19and slides it upward, along the first edge 13 of the square 10, alongthe arrowed line S in FIG. 2B. Sliding the fence 19 in this mannercompresses the spring 62, and so the carpenter must use force to movethe fence 19 to the advanced stance.

An engagement assembly prevents accidental movement of the tab 55 out ofthe third position. When the tab 55 is in the neutral stance, the fence19 is prevented, or disabled, from being moved into the first or secondpositions. Only when the tab 55 is in the advanced stance is movementenabled such that the fence 19 can be moved to the first or secondpositions. A groove 64 depends slightly into the second face 21 of thebody 11. The groove 64 is formed into the body 11 in communication withthe notch 52, extending from the notch 52 across the second face 21 ofthe body 11 toward the second edge 14. An identical groove 63 (FIGS. 1Aand 1B) extends into the first face 20 on the other side of the body 11,and another groove 65 (FIG. 1B) is formed into the first edge 13 itself.Each of the grooves 63-65 are roughly semi-cylindrical cavities.

A tongue 66 complemental to the groove 64 is carried on the fence 19.The tongue 66 is a semi-cylindrical protrusion formed on the inner edge44 of the fence 19. The tongue 66 has a longitudinal axis which isparallel to the first edge 13 of the fence 19. The tongue 66 has aproximal end, which is formed integrally and monolithically to the end57 of the tab 55, and the tongue 66 extends along the inner edge 44 fromthe end 57 to a distal end of the tongue 66, presenting asemi-cylindrical convex surface outward between the proximal and distalends. The tongue 66 is sized and shaped to be received snugly withineach of the grooves 63-65 formed in the body 11 of the square 10.

As the tab 55 moves among the first, second, and third positions of thefence 19, the tongue 66 moves into and out of the grooves 63-65 totemporarily lock the fence 19 in the first, second, and third positions.When the fence 19 is in the first position, the groove 64 receives thetongue 66, and interaction of the tongue 66 with the groove 64 preventspivotal movement of the fence 19 with respect to the body 11. When thefence 19 is in the second position, the groove 63 receives the tongue66, and interaction of the tongue 66 with the groove 63 prevents pivotalmovement of the fence 19 with respect to the body 11. And when the fence19 is in the third position, the groove 65 receives the tongue 66, andinteraction of the tongue 66 with the groove 65 prevents pivotalmovement of the fence 19 with respect to the body 11.

When the fence 19 is in each of the first, second, and third positions,if the carpenter attempts to pivot the fence 19 to another position, thetongue 66 contacts the side of the respective groove 63-65 and isprevented from pivotal movement. Thus, each time the tongue 66 isreceived within one of the grooves 63-65, the fence 19 cannot be movedunless the tab 55 is first moved out of the neutral stance. As such, inthis embodiment, the first, second, and third positions of the fence 19are defined, discrete, and indexed positions. In this embodiment, thefence 19 can only be placed and temporarily locked into one of thesethree indexed positions. Other embodiments have a fewer or greaternumber of positions, indexed or otherwise. The fence 19 is temporarilylocked because inadvertent or accidental movement out of the position iseffectively prevented, yet a carpenter can easily and purposefully movethe fence 19 out of position by overcoming the spring force of thecompression spring 62 and sliding the fence 19 upward into the advancedstance of the tab 55. As such, the tongue 66 and the grooves 63-65define an engagement assembly or spring detent assembly for locking andreleasing the fence 19.

When the carpenter desires to move the fence 19 into another position,such as from the third position to the first position, as shown in FIGS.2A-2D, he first slides the tab 55 out of the neutral stance and into theadvanced stance, as shown from FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B. This causes thetongue 66 to slide longitudinally out of the groove 65. The spring 62exerts a bias on the tab 55 back to the neutral stance, and so thecarpenter must hold the fence 19 to prevent it from returning to theneutral stance. While still grasping the fence 19 in the advancedstance, the carpenter pivots the fence 19 to the side by moving it alongthe arcuate arrowed line P of FIG. 2C. When moved into the positionshown in FIG. 2C, the tongue 66 is registered with but longitudinallyoffset from the groove 64. The carpenter can then release the fence 19and allow the spring 62 to bias the fence 19 back to the neutral stance,along the arrowed line S′ as shown in FIG. 2D. When the fence 19 movesback to the neutral stance, the tongue 66 is received by and engageswith the groove 64 on the second face 21. The fence 19 is nowtemporarily locked into the first position.

The fence 19 is preferably made from the same material as the body 11 ofthe square 10. Referring briefly to FIG. 1A, in some embodiments, thefence 19 includes magnetic elements, examples of which are shown inbroken line with the reference character 67. The magnetic elements 67shown in FIG. 1A are circular, disc-shaped magnets and are encasedwithin the body 40 of the fence 19. In other embodiments, the magneticelements 67 may be offset within the body 40 or flush to one of thefirst or second faces 45 and 46. The embodiment shown here has threemagnetic elements 67 spaced apart along the length of the fence 19. Themagnetic elements 67 are useful for aligning and holding the squareduring metalwork. Some embodiments of fence 19 have fewer magneticelements 67 than shown here, some have more, and some have no magneticelements 67 at all.

Referring again to FIGS. 2A-2D, the square 10 has a dual measurementsystem. Measurements can be made from the fence 19 along the second edge14 when then fence 19 is in any of the first, second, or thirdpositions. The second edge 14 has two sets of measurements indicators,or two sets of measurements. A first set 71 of measurement indicators ismarked along the second edge 14. This first set 71 is identifiable inFIG. 1A because the measurement numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) are orientedwith their tops to the bottom-left in the drawing. The first set 71 hasa zero location 73 from which the rest of the indicators in the firstset 71 are measured and to which the first set 71 corresponds. This zerolocation 73 corresponds to the location of the first face 45 or thesecond face 46 of the fence 19, when the fence 19 is pivoted to thesecond position or the first position, respectively. When the fence 19is so pivoted, the face of the fence 19 which is directed toward thebody 11 of the square 10 defines the plane from which measurements aremade, because that face defines an inside corner which is placed againstan edge of a workpiece. As such, when the fence 19 is in either thefirst or second position, the first set 71 of measurement indicators areuseful for measuring.

When the fence 19 is in the third position, however, the zero location73 is no longer relevant. A second set 72 of measurements indicators ismarked along the second edge 14 and is useful in this situation. Thesecond set 72 has a zero location 74 from which the rest of theindicators in the second set 72 are measured and to which the second set72 corresponds. This zero location 74 corresponds to the fence edge 43of the fence 19 when pivoted to its third position. When the fence 19 isso arranged, the square 10 can be laid flat against a flat workpiece andthe fence edge 43 defines the plane from which measurements are made,because the fence edge 43 would be placed along a line, edge, or likemarker.

The first and second sets 71 and 72 of measurement indicators share thesame hash marks 75. The hash marks 75 thus can be read with either thefirst or the second sets 71 and 72 of measurement indicators, dependingon the arrangement of the fence 19. However, the numbered markings forthe first and second sets 71 and 72 are different. The second zerolocation 74 is offset from the first zero location 73, and so thenumbered markings for the second set 72 of measurement indicators isoffset from the first set 72 of measurements indicators.

The body 11 of the square 10 carries at least three other structureswhich are useful. Referring to FIG. 1A, near the middle of the body 11,the body 11 carries a laser 80 and a jig block 81, and near the secondcorner 17, the body carries a bubble level 82. The bubble level 82 ispreferably a feature of the carpenter square 10, but is not necessarilya feature of it. Moreover, other embodiments of the bubble level may beused, as described later. Moreover, this bubble level 82 and thoseembodiments described later may also be incorporated into other types oflevels, such as a torpedo level, carpenter's or box level, post level,and others.

Referring to FIG. 1A and also to FIG. 2A, the laser 80 is preferablycarried within the body 11 of the square and directs a laser beam out ofthe square 10 parallel to the first edge 13. The laser 80 includes alaser transmitter, shown in broken line within the body 11. It has anemitter end 83 directed toward the second edge 14. The laser 80transmitter is carried in a hold within the body 11 of the square 10,and a bore extends entirely from that hold to the second edge 14. Thebore is not shown in the figures, to preserve the clarity of thedrawings, but the open termination of the bore is shown on the secondedge 14 as an opening 84, as best shown in FIG. 2A. The laser 80 emits alaser beam (identified in dash-dash line with the reference character L)through the bore and out the opening 84. The laser 80 is oriented, andthe bore is registered with that orientation, such that the laser beam Lis parallel to the first edge 13 and thus also to the fence 19. Thisallows a carpenter to set or hang the square 10 on its fence 19 or oneof the first or second faces 45 and 46 atop a workpiece and direct thelaser beam L parallel to that workpiece. Further, the laser 80 ispreferably registered with one of the unit markings of the first andsecond sets 71 and 72 of measurement indicators, to allow for easieroffset measurement calculations when sighting with the laser 80.

Referring now to FIG. 1C primarily, one embodiment of the bubble level82 is shown. The bubble level 82 shown is a single hollow tube havingpreferably three sections: a horizontal section 90, a diagonal section91, and a vertical section 92. The sections 90, 91, and 92 are joined incommunication with each other to define the tube as a single unitarytubular element. However, each section is oriented distinctly withrespect to the others to allow the carpenter to find level in differentways.

The tube of the bubble level 82 has a closed sidewall 93. The sidewall93 is preferably tubular and transparent. In some embodiments, thesidewall 93 is cylindrical, while in others it is rectangular prismatic,and in other embodiments it has other shapes. The sidewall 93 is carriedin a hold 94 which is open to both the first face 20 and the second face21 so that the bubble level 82 can be viewed from both sides of thesquare 10. The tube is filled with a fluid, such as water, alcohol, orglycol, and that fluid is preferably colored to provide contrast with abubble 95 in the fluid. The sidewall 93 is closed at both ends so thatthe fluid does not leak.

The horizontal section 90 is aligned parallel to the first edge 13 andnormal to the second edge 14. It extends from a closed end of the tubeto the diagonal section 91. The tube has a discrete and angulartransition from the horizontal section 90 to the diagonal section 91.The diagonal section 91 is normal to the hypotenuse edge 12 and isangled at forty-five degrees with respect to both the first and secondedges 13 and 14. The diagonal section 91 extends from the horizontalsection 90 to the vertical section 92. The tube has a discrete andangular transition from the diagonal section 91 to the vertical section92. The vertical section 92 is parallel to the second edge 14 and normalto the first edge 13. Because the diagonal section 91 is in fluidcommunication with both of the horizontal and vertical sections 90 and92, the bubble 95 can move among each section 90, 91, and 92 easily asthe carpenter handles the square 10.

Each section 90, 91, and 92 has a pair of level lines 96. The levellines 96 are marked in the center of each section, spaced apart at adistance just greater than the diameter of the bubble 95. When the firstedge 13 of the square 10 is placed against an object and the bubble 95is between the lines 96 without touching the lines 96, the bubble level82 indicates that the surface of the object has a particularmeasurement. If the bubble 95 touches one of the lines, then the surfaceof the object is off that particular measurement, such as by 2% oranother value. If the bubble 95 is further outside the lines, then thesurface of the object is further off that particular measurement.

In use, the carpenter places the first edge 13 or the fence edge 43against the surface of an object. Depending on the object's orientation,one of the sections 90, 91, and 92 will likely be of interest. If, forexample, the surface is near horizontal, such as on the top of a beam,then the carpenter will refer to the horizontal section 90 of the bubblelevel 82. The bubble 95 will float to the horizontal section 90 andsettle somewhere in or near the lines 96 in the horizontal section 90.This will tell the carpenter how close to level the beam is. If, on theother hand, the carpenter wants to check for plumb on a post supportingthe beam, he will place the first edge 13 (or the fence edge 43) againstthe side of the post with the second edge 14 up and then refer to thevertical section 92 of the bubble level 82. Re-arranging the square 10in this way causes the bubble 95 to move into the vertical section 92and settle somewhere in or near the lines 96 in the vertical section 92.The carpenter now knows how close to plumb the post is in thatdirection. Finally, if the carpenter wants to check a brace extendingmore or less diagonally from the post to the beam, he will place thefirst edge 13 (or the fence edge 43) against the upper or lower face ofthe brace and refer to the diagonal section 91 of the bubble level 82.Re-arranging the square 10 in this way causes the bubble 95 to move intothe diagonal section 91 and settle somewhere in or near the lines 96 inthe diagonal section 91. The carpenter now knows how close to forty-fivethe diagonal actually is between the post and the beam. This singlebubble level 82 allows three different measurements.

An alternate bubble level is shown in the embodiment of the square 10depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C. The bubble level 86 is similar to the bubblelevel 82 and shares many of the same structural elements and features.As such, the description of the bubble level 86 adopts the samereference characters used just above to describe the bubble level 82,but marks them with a prime symbol (“′”) to distinguish them from thoseof the bubble level 82. The bubble level 86 is a single hollow tubehaving preferably two sections: a horizontal section 90′ and a verticalsection 92′ joined in communication with each other to define the tubeas a single unitary tube. The two sections are oriented distinctly withrespect to each other to allow the carpenter to find level in differentways.

The tube of the bubble level 86 has a closed sidewall 93′. The sidewall93′ is preferably transparent. In some embodiments, the sidewall 93′ iscylindrical, while in others it is rectangular prismatic, and in otherembodiments it has other shapes. The sidewall 93′ is carried in a hold94′ which is open to both the first face 20 and the second face 21 sothat the bubble level 86 can be viewed from both sides of the square 10.The tube is filled with a fluid, such as water, alcohol, or glycol, andthat fluid is preferably colored to provide contrast with a bubble 95′in the fluid. The sidewall 93′ is closed at both ends so that the fluiddoes not leak.

The horizontal section 90′ is aligned parallel to the first edge 13 andnormal to the second edge 14. It extends from a closed end of the tubeto the a right corner formed with the vertical section 92′. The tube hasa discrete and angular transition from the horizontal section 90 to thatvertical section 92′. The vertical section 92′ is parallel to the secondedge 14 and normal to the first edge 13. The bubble 95′ can move betweenthe sections 90′ and 92′ easily as the carpenter handles the square 10.

Referring still to FIGS. 3A-3C, this specification describes the use andoperation of the jig block 81. The jig block 81 converts the square 10into a jig which quickly and easily lays out a pattern of lines formarking cuts along an edge of a workpiece, such as for making thepatterned cuts of a stair stringer from a 2×12 piece of lumber. The jigblock 81 is a thin piece of material, preferably made from the samematerial as the body 11 of the square 10, which has a long edge 100 anda through-hole 101. The jig block 81 is held in place in the body 11until needed, at which time the carpenter removes the jig block 81,secures it to the medial slit 22, and uses the entire square to lay outa pattern of cut lines.

The jig block 81 is carried in a hold 102 in the body 11 of the square10. The hold 102 is an empty space sized and shaped to snugly receiveand hold the jig block 81. In embodiments, the hold 102 has inner edgeswhich are tiered so that the jig block 81 can be removed only throughone side of the hold 102 and one side of the square 10. In other words,in those embodiments, the size of the hold on one side of the square 10is slightly smaller than the size of the hold on the other side of thesquare 10 (and slightly smaller than the jig block 81 itself), such thatthe jig block 81 cannot be removed through the smaller side but ratheronly through the larger side.

The jig block 81 has a long edge 100. The long edge 100 is straight anduninterrupted by notches, projections, divots, or other discontinuities.The embodiment of the jig block 81 shown in these drawings has fourother edges, arranged to form a shape roughly similar to a baseball homeplate. Other shapes are suitable, so long as the jig block 81 has a longedge 100. The jig block 81 itself is thin and no thicker than thethickness of the body 11 of the square 10 so that the jig block 81 canbe stored in the square and not impede the use of the square 10 when thejig block 81 is so stored.

In use, the jig block 81 is removed from the hold 102. In someembodiments, the jig block 81 is magnetic and is magnetically secured inthe hold 102. In other embodiments, a small turn screw disposed at theedge of the hold 102 selectively locks and releases the jig block 81. Inother embodiments, the jig block 81 is simply snugly fit and held in thehold 102. Regardless of how the jig block 81 is held, it is removed fromthe hold 102. The jig block 81 is taken up by hand and placed againstone of the first and second faces 20 and 21. In FIG. 3B, as an exampleonly, the jig block 81 is placed against the first face 20. The jigblock 81 is oriented such that its long edge 100 is generally directedtoward the right corner 15 and its through-hole 101 is registered withthe medial slit 22. The carpenter takes a set screw 103 and passes itthrough the through-hole 101 and the medial slit 22. In someembodiments, the set screw 103 may screw directly into the medial slit22 but, more preferably, a nut is placed over the free end of the setscrew 103 and is tightened thereon, thereby binding the jig block 81against the body 11 of the square 10. In embodiments, the set screw 103is stored in or on the square 10. For example, FIG. 3A shows the setscrew 103 in broken line secured in a small threaded bore 104 extendinginto the hypotenuse edge 12, which is less frequently used as a markingedge. In other embodiments, the set screw 103 may be stored in a bore onthe jig block 81 itself.

Once the jig block 81 is attached to the face 20 of the square 10, thesquare 10 is taken up by hand, inverted, and placed over a workpiece 108such as a piece of lumber, as shown in FIG. 3C. The workpiece 108 has anouter edge 109 along which cuts are to be made. To place the entire face20 of the square on top of the workpiece 108, the carpenter must movethe fence 19 to its third position, flat and coplanar with respect tothe body 11 of the square 10.

In FIG. 3C, the jig block 81 is underneath the square 10 and so is shownsubstantially in broken line. The carpenter manipulates the square 10 sothat the long edge 100 is placed in direct and continuous contact withthe outer edge 109 of the workpiece 108. This causes the right corner 15and much of the body 11 of the square 10 to become disposed over theworkpiece 108.

The carpenter then adjusts the jig block 81 to ensure the square 10marks out a desired pattern. The carpenter will have a predeterminedpattern to cut. For example, if he is cutting a stringer, he will needto know the rise and run, such as 7.5 inches and 11 inches. With thelong edge 100 of the jig block 81 against the workpiece 108, thecarpenter loosens the set screw 103 slightly so that the square 10 canbe moved with respect to the jig block 81. The carpenter moves thesquare 10 to achieve the desired rise and run. This may require slidingthe square 10 so that the jig block 81 moves up or down along the medialslit 22. It may also require rotating the body 11 of the square 10 whilethe jig block 81 is maintained against the outer edge 109.

When the carpenter has aligned the square 10 on the workpiece such thatthe outer edge 109 crosses the desired rise and run measurements, hetightens the set screw 103. Note that the carpenter uses the measuredindicators 47 along the fence 19 and the second set 72 of measuredindicators along the second edge, because the fence 19 is in its thirdposition and the carpenter must use of the offset second set 72.

With the square 10 properly dialed, the carpenter can now quickly layout cut lines. He makes his first set of lines A1 and A2 as shown at thetop of FIG. 3C. Lines A1 and A2 prescribe two cuts made at a right anglewith the desired rise and run measurements. The carpenter thentranslates the square down the workpiece 108 along arrowed line T to asecond position. The second position, shown in FIG. 3C as occupied bythe square begins at the termination of line A2, where line A2 meets theouter edge 109. The carpenter then marks lines B1 and B2 along the fenceedge 43 and the second edge 14, respectively. He then continues totranslate the square 10 and mark successive lines, quickly laying outthe needed cut pattern.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a carpenter square 110. Thecarpenter square 110 is similar in many ways to the square 10 and sharesmany of the same structural elements and features as the square 10. Assuch, the square 110 adopts the same reference characters to describethe same features, but marks them with a prime (“′”) symbol todistinguish the structural elements and features of the square 110 fromthe square 10. For example, while the square 10 has a fence 19, thesquare 110 has a fence 19′. The fences 19 and 19′ are identical in everyrespect, but because the fence 19′ is part of the square 110, itsreference character is marked with the prime symbol. Because structuressuch as these have already been described with respect to the square 10,this specification generally does not describe them further with respectto the square 110. Other structures which have not already beenintroduced or are different bear unique reference characters.

The square 110 includes a body 111 which is generally triangular inshape with a long leg contiguously extending from one side. The square110 has: 1) a hypotenuse edge 112 opposite a right corner 15′; 2) ashort first edge 13′; and 3) a long second edge 114. The fence 19′ ispivoted to the first edge 13′ and, like the fence 19, pivots among threepositions. In FIG. 4 , the first and second positions of the fence 19′are shown in broken line, normal to the body 11, and the third positionis illustrated in solid line. The fence 19′ is pivoted to the body 111with the engagement assemblies of the tabs 55′, axles 60′, springs 62′,tongues 66′, and grooves 63′-65′. The tongues 66′ and grooves 63′-65′are not marked in the drawings but the reader will understand theirlocation, structure, and function from the description above of theidentical tongues 66 and grooves 63-65.

The body 111 of the square 110 and the fence 19′ are both preferablyconstructed from a material or combination of materials with rugged,strong, durable, and hard material characteristics. Preferably, the body11 is made from metal, hard wood, plastic, or like materials offeringthese characteristics. The body 11 has a first face 120 and an opposedsecond face 121, which is marked and opposite the first face 120 but notshown in FIG. 4 . The faces 120 and 121 are flat and parallel to eachother, spaced apart by a width X of the body 111, as shown in FIG. 4 .The faces 120 and 121 are marked with a plurality of indications andmeasurements.

Moreover, slots and slits are formed through the body 111 entirely fromthe first face 120 through to the other second face 121. The body 111includes the medial slit 22′, the first slot 23′, the second slot 30′,and the hypotenuse slot 33′. These slots are useful for making markingsthrough the square 110 and for attaching the jig block 81′ to the square110 when the carpenter desires to lay out a cut pattern.

Unlike the square 10, the square 110 has an extension, or a leg 124,projecting from one corner. The leg 124 is a roughly rectangular pieceof material which is integrally and monolithically formed to the body111 as part of the body 111. The second edge 114 is long, extendingcontinuously along the main portion of the body 111 as well as the leg124. The leg 124 extends from the main portion of the body 111 to ablunt terminal edge 125. The terminal edge 125 is linear, straight, andparallel to the first edge 13′. In other embodiments, the terminal edge125 has other shapes.

The leg 124 defines a contiguous extension of the second edge 114, as itcommonly shares and extends the second edge 114. That second edge 114has two sets of measurements indicators. A first set 131 of measurementindicators is marked along the second edge 114. This first set 131 isidentifiable in FIG. 4 because the measurement numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.)are oriented with their tops to the left in the drawing. The first set131 has a zero location 133 from which the rest of the indicators in thefirst set 131 are measured and to which the first set 131 corresponds.This zero location 133 corresponds to the location of the first face 45′or the second face 46′ of the fence 19′, when the fence 19′ is pivotedto the second position or the first position, respectively. When thefence 19′ is so pivoted, the face of the fence 19′ which is directedtoward the body 111 of the square 110 defines the plane from whichmeasurements are made, because that face is placed against an edge of aworkpiece. As such, when the fence 19′ is in either the first or secondposition, the first set 131 of measurement indicators are useful formeasuring.

When the fence 19′ is in the third position, however, the zero location133 is no longer relevant. A second set 132 of measurements indicatorsis marked along the second edge 114 and is useful in this situation. Thesecond set 132 has a zero location 134 from which the rest of theindicators in the second set 132 are measured and to which the secondset 132 corresponds. This zero location 134 corresponds to the fenceedge 43′ of the fence 19′ when pivoted to its third position. When thefence 19′ is arranged, the square 110 can be laid flat against a flatworkpiece and the fence edge 43′ defines the plane from whichmeasurements are made, because the fence edge 43′ would be placed alonga line, edge, or like marker.

The first and second sets 131 and 132 of measurement indicators sharethe same hash marks 135. The hash marks 135 thus can be read with eitherthe first or the second sets 131 and 132 of measurement indicators,depending on the arrangement of the fence 19′. However, the numberedmarkings for the first and second sets 131 and 132 are different. Thesecond zero location 134 is offset from the first zero location 133, andso the numbered markings for the second set 132 of measurementindicators is offset from the first set 132 of measurements indicators.

Unlike the second edge 14 of the square 10, which preferably extendsroughly twelve inches, the leg 124 extends the second edge 114 topreferably sixteen inches. In other embodiments, the length may belonger or shorter. The reader will understand that none of the lengthsdescribed herein are critical, and that the scope of disclosure for eachembodiment covers different lengths, both short and long. For example,the square 110 may only be a few inches long or may be two feet or morein length.

Like the square 10, the square 110 preferably carries a laser 80′, a jigblock 81′, and a bubble level 140. The bubble level 140 is differentfrom the bubble level 82, however. The bubble level 140 is oneembodiment of a bubble level. The bubble level 140 is a hollow tubehaving a continuous arcuate shape. The arc extends preferablyone-hundred eighty degrees, though in other embodiments it may beshorter or longer. In this embodiment, the arc extends from one end 147,proximate to the hypotenuse edge, up and around toward the leg 124, andthen back to down to an opposed end 148, proximate to the second edge114. Different portions of this arc allow the carpenter to find level indifferent ways.

The tube of the bubble level 140 has a closed sidewall 141. The sidewall141 is preferably transparent. In some embodiments, the sidewall 141 iscylindrical, while in others it is rectangular prismatic, and in otherembodiments it has other shapes. The sidewall 141 is carried in a hold142 which is open to both the first face 120 and the second face 121 sothat the bubble level 140 can be viewed from both sides of the square110. The tube is filled with a fluid, such as water, alcohol, or glycol,and that fluid is preferably colored to provide contrast with a float143 in the fluid. The float 143 is preferably a bubble in the fluid, butin other embodiments the float is a small, transparent, and rigid sphereor capsule. The tube is closed at both ends 147 and 148 so that thefluid does not leak. The sidewall 141 curves arcuately from one closedend 147 to the other closed end 148.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes three pairs of level lines. Afirst set 144 of level lines is marked proximate to the end 147 of thebubble level 140 which is proximate the hypotenuse edge 112. The firstset 144 of level lines are marked through the tube in a radial directionand are spaced apart at a distance just greater than the diameter of thefloat 143. A second set 145 of level lines is marked halfway between theends of the bubble level 140. The second set 145 of level lines aremarked through the tube in a radial direction and are spaced apart at adistance just greater than the diameter of the float 143. A third set146 of level lines is marked proximate to the end of the bubble level140 which is proximate the second edge 114. The third set 146 of levellines are marked through the tube in a radial direction and are spacedapart at a distance just greater than the diameter of the float 143.

The bubble level 140 shown in this embodiment of the square 110 is justone embodiment. Other carpenter squares according to the scope of thisdisclosure may include other bubble levels described herein, such as thebubble level 82 or the bubble levels described later. Likewise, whilethe embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes a jig block 81′, otherembodiments do not include the jig block 81′, and while the FIG. 4embodiment includes a laser 80′, other embodiments do not. The scope ofthis disclosure and the embodiments described includes all permutationsof the various structural elements and features of all embodimentsdisclosed herein.

The first, second, and third sets 144, 145, and 146 of level lines areuseful for measuring different inclinations of object surfaces. In use,the carpenter places the first edge 13′ or the fence edge 43′ againstthe surface of an object. If that surface is near horizontal, such as onthe top of a beam, then the carpenter will refer to the first set 144 oflevel lines. The float 143 will float to the top of the bubble level 140and settle somewhere in or near that set 144 of level lines. This tellsthe carpenter how close to level the beam is. If the float 143 touchesone of the lines, then the surface of the object is off that particularmeasurement, such as by 2% or another value. If the float 143 is furtheroutside the lines, then the surface of the object is further off thatparticular measurement.

If, on the other hand, the carpenter wants to check for plumb on a postsupporting the beam, he will place the first edge 13′ (or the fence edge43′) against the side of the post with the second edge 114 up and thenrefer to the side of the bubble level 140. Re-arranging the square 110in this way causes the float 143 to settle somewhere in or near thethird set 146 of lines. The carpenter now knows how close to plumb thepost is in that direction.

Finally, if the carpenter wants to check a brace extending more or lessdiagonally from the post to the beam, he will place the first edge 13′(or the fence edge 43′) against the upper or lower face of the brace andrefer to the second set 145 of level lines of the bubble level 140.Re-arranging the square 110 in this way causes the float 143 to settlesomewhere in or near that second set 145 of lines. The carpenter nowknows how close to forty-five the diagonal actually is between the postand the beam. This single bubble level 140 allows three differentmeasurements.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a carpenter square 160.The carpenter square 160 is similar in many ways to the square 10 andshares many of the same structural elements and features as the square10. As such, the square 160 adopts the same reference characters todescribe the same features, but marks them with a double prime (“″”)symbol to distinguish the structural elements and features of the square160 from the square 10. For example, while the square 10 has a fence 19,the square 160 has a fence 19″. The fences 19 and 19″ are identical inevery respect, but because fence 19″ is part of the square 160, itsreference character is further designated with the prime symbol. Becausestructures such as these have already been described with respect to thesquare 10, this specification generally does not describe them furtherwith respect to the square 160.

The square 160 is particularly useful for the metalworker or metalcraftsman. The square 160 includes a body 161 which is generallytriangular in shape and has three major edges. The square 160 has: 1) ahypotenuse edge 12″ opposite a right corner 15″; 2) a short first edge13″; and 3) a short second edge 14″. These three edges cooperate todefine a perimeter edge 18″ of the body 161 of the square 160 itself.Within the perimeter edge 18″, carried in the body 161, is an embodimentof a bubble level 180 which the metalworker can use to determine ameasurement within a range of angles.

The roughly rectangular fence 19″ is pivoted to the first edge 13″ and,like the fence 19, pivots among the three positions. In FIG. 5 , thefirst and second positions of the fence 19″ are shown in broken line,normal to the body 161, and the third position is illustrated in solidline. The fence 19″ is pivoted to the body 161 with the engagementassemblies of the tabs 55″, axles 60″, springs 62″, and tongues 66″ andgrooves 63″-65″ (not shown in FIG. 5 ).

Both the body 161 of the square 160 and the fence 19″ are preferablyconstructed from a material or combination of materials with rugged,strong, durable, and hard material characteristics. Preferably, the body161 is made from metal, hard wood, plastic, or like materials offeringthese characteristics. The body 161 has a first face 170 and an opposedsecond face 171, as shown in FIG. 6 . The faces first and second faces170 and 171 are flat and parallel to each other, spaced apart by a widthY of the body 161, as shown in FIG. 6 . FIG. 6 is a section view takenalong the line 6-6 in FIG. 5 .

The first and second faces 170 and 171 are marked with a plurality ofindications and measurements. Moreover, slots and slits are formedthrough the body 161 entirely from the first face 170 through to theother second face 171. The body 161 includes the first slot 23″ and thehypotenuse slot 33″. These slots are useful for making markings throughthe square 160.

The second edge 14″ has two sets of measurements indicators. A first set71″ of measurement indicators is marked along the second edge 14″. Thisfirst set 71″ is identifiable in FIG. 5 because each of the measurementnumbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) is oriented with its top to the left in thedrawing. The first set 71″ has a zero location 73″ from which the restof the indicators in the first set 71″ are measured and to which thefirst set 71″ corresponds. This zero location 73″ corresponds to theright corner 15″ and to the location of the first face 45″ or the secondface 46″ (not shown) of the fence 19″, when the fence 19″ is pivoted tothe second position or the first position, respectively. When the fence19″ is so pivoted, the face of the fence 19″ which is directed towardthe body 161 of the square 160 defines the plane from which measurementsare made, because that face is placed against an edge of a workpiece. Assuch, when the fence 19″ is in either the first or second position, thefirst set 71″ of measurement indicators are useful for measuring.

When the fence 19″ is in the third position, however, the zero location73″ is no longer relevant. A second set 72″ of measurements indicatorsis marked along the second edge 14″ and is useful in this situation. Thesecond set 72″ has a zero location 74″ from which the rest of theindicators in the second set 72″ are measured and to which the secondset 72″ corresponds. This zero location 74″ corresponds to the fenceedge 43″ of the fence 19″ when pivoted to its third position. When thefence 19″ is so arranged, the square 160 can be laid flat against a flatworkpiece and the fence edge 43″ defines the plane from whichmeasurements are made, because the fence edge 43″ would be placed alonga line, edge, or like marker.

The first and second sets 71″ and 72″ of measurement indicators sharethe same hash marks 75″. The hash marks 75″ thus can be read with eitherthe first or the second sets 71″ and 72″ of measurement indicators,depending on the arrangement of the fence 19″. However, the numberedmarkings for the first and second sets 71″ and 72″ are different. Thesecond zero location 74″ is offset from the first zero location 73″, andso the numbered markings for the second set 72″ of measurementindicators is offset from the first set 72″ of measurements indicators.

In this embodiment of the square 160, the three edges 12″, 13″, and 14″define the body 161 as having a triangular formation. However, the scopeof the embodiment of square 160 is not so limited. For example, in otherembodiments, the square 160 includes a leg similar to the leg 124 of thesquare 110.

Like the square 10, the square 160 preferably carries a bubble level,but the bubble level 180 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 for the square 160 isdifferent from the bubble level 82 of the square 10. The bubble level180 is one embodiment of a bubble level. Referring now to both FIG. 5and FIG. 6 , the bubble level 180 defines a flying saucer-shapedreservoir filled with a fluid and a single float or bubble for findingmeasurements.

The bubble level 180 has a central hub and an annulus encircling thehub, and the float floats freely between the hub and the annulusdepending on the orientation of the square 160. The bubble level 180 isset into a hold 181 in the body 161 of the square 160. The hold 181 is agenerally cylindrical bore formed through the body 161 from the firstface 170 through to the second face 171, defining an inner wall 182. Thebubble level 180 is fit snugly into the hold 181, but in someembodiments, the bubble level 180 is secured in the hold 181 not justwith a snug fit but with adhesive or some other fastener.

The bubble level 180 is formed from a thin sidewall 183 which ispreferably symmetric about a central plane parallel to the first andsecond faces 170 and 171. The sidewall 183 has a first wall 184 and asecond wall 185, which are preferably symmetric to each other. The firstand second walls 184 and 185 meet at the inner wall 182 and bound anddefine a reservoir having a disc shape. Extending radially inward fromthe inner wall 182, the first and second walls 184 and 185 expandoutwardly away from each other, until an inflection point 186. Theinflection point 186 is a generally circular boundary between theannulus (outside the inflection point 186) and the hub (inside theinflection point 186). Within the inflection point, the first and secondwalls 184 and 185 each define a truncated or severed sphere, having onlya rounded portion which is less than a semi-sphere. Together, the firstand seconds walls 184 and 185 cooperate to define a roughly egg-shapedspace at the hub, within the inflection point 186. In other embodiments,this hub has other shapes.

Within the inflection point 186, the first and second walls 184 and 185both rise to a top 189 which is flush with or just inboard of the firstand second faces 170 and 171, respectively. As such, the bubble level180 is bound within the body 161 by the first and second faces 170 and171. In other embodiments, the hold 181 and/or the bubble level 180extend beyond these faces 170 and 171, but scratching damage to thebubble level 180 may be possible in such other embodiments.

The walls 184 and 185 are preferably transparent, such that themetalworker can look through the bubble level 180 from either side ofthe square 160 and view an interior 187 of the bubble level 180. Theinterior 187 is substantially filled with a fluid 188, but for a float190. The float 190 is a small, rigid, and preferably transparent spherewith a small marking 191 such as a dot. The marking 191 is centrallylocated within the float 190, such that the float 190 has sphericalsymmetry with respect to the marking 191. The float 190 is preferablyotherwise empty. It has a density which is lower than the surroundingfluid 188, and the float 190 rises to the relative top of the fluid 188depending on the orientation of the square 160. In other embodiments ofthe bubble level 180, the float 190 may instead be a simple bubble inthe fluid 188.

The bubble level 180 includes various indications. The bubble level 180has a bullseye formed by a horizontal line 192 and a vertical line 193at a right angle to the horizontal line, each extending entirely acrossthe diameter of the sidewall 183 and through the top 189 of the sidewall183, on both sides. The horizontal line 192 is parallel to the firstedge 13″, and the vertical line 193 is parallel to the second edge 14″.A circular line 194 is centered at the intersection of the horizontaland vertical lines 192 and 193. When the square 160 is laid flat (as inFIG. 6 ), such that its second face 171 is against a horizontal surface,the float 190 rises to the top 189 and settles somewhere within or nearthe circular line 194. This tells the metalworker how close to level thehorizontal surface actually is. If the float 190 touches part of thecircular line 194, then then the horizontal surface is off level, suchas by 2% or another value. If the float 190 is further outside thecircular line 194, then the horizontal surface is further off.

The bubble level 180 also allows the metalworker to check a surface forany angle. Radial hash marks 195 are scribed on the annulus of thesidewall 183 just inboard of the inner wall 182 of the hold 181. Thehash marks 195 are angular measurements, with a zero angle correspondingto the hash mark 195 at the end of the vertical line 193 which isproximate the second corner 17″. In FIG. 5 , the float 190 has risen totoward this zero angle, indicating that the first edge 13″ is level. Ifthe first edge 13″ is laid on a surface that is, for example, angled atseventeen degrees, the float 190 will rise to the hash mark 195corresponding to seventeen degrees (or to a space between hash markscorresponding to sixteen and eighteen degrees, or to some other spacebetween hash marks flanking seventeen degrees).

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bubble level 180 occupiesa large portion of the middle of the body 161 of the square 160. Becauseof the size of the bubble level 180, the square does not include amedial slit 22, a second slot 30, a laser 80, or a jig block 81. Inother embodiments, however, the bubble level 180 is smaller or larger,as needed for the particular implementation and work to be done with thesquare 160. And in such other embodiments the square 160 includes amedial slit 22, a second slot 30, a laser 80, a jig block 81, or somecombination of those elements. Indeed, other carpenter squares accordingto the scope of this disclosure may include other bubble levelsdescribed herein. The scope of this disclosure and the embodimentsdescribed includes all permutations of the various structural elementsand features of all embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a carpenter square 210. The square includes a body211 having three edges. The square 210 has: 1) a hypotenuse edge 212opposite a welder's corner 215; 2) a short first edge 213 extendingbetween the welder's corner 215 and a first corner 216 formed by andbetween the short first edge 213 and the hypotenuse edge 212; and 3) ashort second edge 214 extending between the welder's corner 215 and asecond corner 217 formed by and between the short second edge 214 andthe hypotenuse edge 212. These three edges cooperate to define aperimeter edge 218 of the body 211 of the square 210 itself.

Pivoted to the hypotenuse edge 212 is a fence 219. The fence 219 is aroughly rectangular piece of material coextensive to the hypotenuse edge212. The fence 219 pivots between preferably three indexed positions. Ina first position of the fence 219, shown in broken line in FIG. 7 , thefence 219 is normal to the body 211 in a first direction (upward alongthe paper, or toward the top of the page). In a second position of thefence 219, also shown in broken line in FIG. 7 , the fence 219 is normalto the body 211 in a second direction, opposite the first direction(down along the paper, or toward bottom of the page). In a thirdposition, shown in solid line in FIG. 7 , the fence 219 is coplanar tothe body 211.

Like the fence 19 of the square 10, when the fence 219 is in the firstor second positions, a carpenter can lay the fence 219 against astraight edge and mark lines. The normal arrangement of the fence 219 tothe body 211 of the square 210 makes quick alignment of the square 210easy. If the carpenter desires to lay the body 211 of the square 210entirely on the workpiece and at least partially inboard from thestraight edge, however, he need only move the fence 219 to the thirdposition, such that the fence 219 is aligned coplanar to the body 211and the entirety of the square 210 can be laid flat on the workpiece.

The body 211 of the square 210 is generally triangular, because theperimeter edge 218 generally has three major sides or lengths. The firstand second edges 13 and 14 meet at the welder's corner 215, the firstedge 213 and the hypotenuse edge 212 meet at the acute first corner 216,and the second edge 214 and hypotenuse edge 212 meet at the acute secondcorner 217.

The first and second edges 213 and 214 are normal to each other andnearly meet at the welder's corner 215. The welder's corner 215 is anotch or open corner, formed by a diagonal edge between the first edge213 and the second edge 214. The welder's corner 215 defines an openspace just offboard the body 211 of the square 210 which can receive aweld between two metal pieces. In other words, a metalworker can placethe square 210 against two metal pieces that are arranged normal to eachother, and if the welder's corner 215 is placed over the weld betweenthe two pieces of metal, the square 210 sits flush against the twopieces of metal. This allows the metal worker to use the square 210 insituations where other carpenter's squares would be blocked from a closefit by the weld. The person having ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that the welder's corner still defines a right corner, sincethe first and second edges 213 and 214 are normal to each other. Thediagonal edge 220 is part of the perimeter edge 218, but is very short,and is so small that the three major sides of the edges 212, 213, and214 dominate the appearance of the square 210 such that the body 211generally is triangular.

The body 211 is preferably constructed from a material or combination ofmaterials with rugged, strong, durable, and hard materialcharacteristics. Preferably, the body 211 is made from metal, hard wood,plastic, or like materials offering these characteristics.

The body 211 has a first face 221 and an opposed second face 222 (notvisible in FIG. 7 ). The first and second faces 221 and 222 are flat andparallel to each other, spaced apart by a width Z of the body 211. Thefirst and second faces 221 and 222 are marked with a plurality ofindications and measurements. Moreover, slots and slits are formedthrough the body 211 entirely from the first face 221 through to theother second face 222. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 ,two slots are formed inboard of the first and second edges 213 and 214.

A first slot 223 is parallel to and inboard of the second edge 214. Thefirst slot 223 has opposed major sides 224 and opposed diagonal minorends 225. The major sides 224 are both parallel to the second edge 214,and the major side 224 proximate to the second edge 214 is larger thanthe major side 224 distal to the second edge 214. The minor ends 225 arediagonal and directed inward at approximately forty-five degrees, suchthat the minor end 225 proximate the first edge 213 is canted away fromthe first edge 213 and the minor end 225 distal to the first edge 213 iscanted toward the first edge 213. Thus, the first slot 223 has theappearance of an isosceles trapezoid. The first slot 223 is open suchthat a pencil can be passed through it to make markings on a workpieceunderneath, especially as the square 210 is slid along the workpiece.Along the major side 224 which is proximate the second edge 214 of thesquare 210, the first face 221 is marked with measured indicators 226.Here, the measured indicators 226 are inch and half-inch markings,measured from the second edge 214. Since the first slot 223 is offsetfrom the first edge 213, the first of the measured indicators is aone-inch marking, because the end of the first slot 23 which isproximate to the first edge 213 is one inch from the first edge 213. Inother embodiments, the first slot 223, if existent, has other shapes,orientations, and arrangements.

Another slot, a hypotenuse slot 230, is formed inboard of the hypotenuseedge 212. The hypotenuse slot 230 is parallel to and inboard of thehypotenuse edge 212. The hypotenuse slot 230 has opposed major sides 231and opposed diagonal minor ends 232. The major sides 231 are bothparallel to the hypotenuse edge 212, and the major side 231 proximate tothe hypotenuse edge 212 is larger than the major side 231 distal to thehypotenuse edge 212. The minor ends 232 are diagonal and directed inwardat approximately forty-five degrees, such that the minor end 232proximate the first edge 213 is parallel to the first edge 213 and theminor end 232 proximate to the second edge 214 is parallel to the secondedge 214. Thus, the hypotenuse slot 230 has the appearance of anisosceles trapezoid. The hypotenuse slot 230 is also open such that apencil can be passed through it to make markings on a workpieceunderneath. Along both major sides 231, the first face 221 is markedwith measured indicators 233. In other embodiments, the hypotenuse slot230, if existent, has other shapes, orientations, and arrangements.

The fence 219 is hinged to the body 211 to move between the threeindexed positions, similar to the fence 19. Although in otherembodiments, the fence 219 pivots between an alternate number ofpositions, the embodiment shown here pivots between three for ease andclarity of understanding. After reading this description, one havingordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate how the fence 219moves among an alternate number of positions in such other embodiments.

The fence 219 has a body 240 which is generally rectangular prismatic,and which extends between two opposed ends 241 and 242. The ends 241 and242 are flat and parallel to each other, and both are oriented atforty-five degrees to each of the first and second edges 213 and 214.The body 240 of the fence 219 includes a narrow fence edge 243 extendingbetween the two ends 241 and 242. The fence edge 243 is straight anduninterrupted by notches, projections, divots, or other features whichwould prevent the fence edge 243 from defining a straight line. Oppositethe fence edge 243, the body 240 includes an inner edge 244 directedtoward the first edge 213 of the body 211 of the square 210. Like thefirst edge 213, the inner edge 244 is interrupted by hinge assemblieswhich couple the fence 219 to the body 211 of the square 210. Both thefirst edge 213 and the inner edge 244 are slightly rounded so that thefence 219 smoothly pivots with respect to the body 211 withoutinterruption or catching.

The body 240 of the fence 219 has a first face and a second face 245 and246. The faces 245 and 246 are flat and parallel to each other, spacedapart by the same width Z that defines the width of the body 211 of thesquare 210. When the fence 219 is arranged in its third position, thefirst face 245 of the fence 219 is registered with and coplanar to thefirst face 221 of the body 211, and the second face 246 is registeredwith and coplanar to the second face 221 of the body 211. The first andsecond faces 245 and 246 are both marked with measured indicators 247along the fence edge 243. The measured indicators 247 on the first andsecond faces 245 and 246 are the same, starting at the second end 242and increasing in number toward the opposed end 241. The fence edge 243also carries measured indicators which are registered with the measuredindicators 247. However, while the measured indicators 247 preferablyinclude tick or hash marks as well as numbers, the measured indicatorson the fence edge 243 preferably only include hash marks due to thelimited space available on the fence edge 243, similar to those on thefence edge 43 of the square 10. The carpenter can easily sight thenumbers on the adjacent first or second face 245 or 246 to identify themeasurement.

The fence 219 mounts to the body 211 of the square 210 at preferably twohinge assemblies 250 including structural features and elements on boththe fence 219 and the body 211. In fact, the fence 219 mounts to thebody 211 of the square 210 in the same way that the fence 19 of thesquare 10 mounts to the body 11, except that the fences 19 and 219 mountto respectively different edges—the first edge 13 and the hypotenuseedge 212. The two hinge assemblies 250 are identical in structure anddiffer only in location, and as such, the reader will understand thatthe description of this hinge assembly 250 applies equally to thedescription of the other hinge assembly 250. The reference charactersare marked onto either of the hinge assemblies 250 to prevent clutteringof the drawing. In other embodiments, there may be fewer or more hingeassemblies 250.

Inboard of the hypotenuse edge 214, a notch 252 interrupts the firstedge 213. The notch 252 is blind and extends into the body 211 of thesquare 210, terminating at an inner wall, which extends between twosides 253 and 254 of the notch 252. The notch 252 defines a receivingspace complemental to a tab 255 on the fence 219 which fits into thenotch 252.

The tab 255 is an integral, unitary, monolithic projection of the body240 inner edge 244 of the fence 219. The tab 255 has two opposed ends256 and 257 normal to the inner edge 244 and an inner edge 258 extendingbetween the ends 256 and 257. Like the inner edge 244 of the fence 219itself, the inner edge 258 is rounded. The distance between the ends 256and 257 is approximately half to two-thirds of the distance between thesides 253 and 254 of the notch 252, and so the tab 255 fits easilywithin the notch 252.

The tab 255 is mounted on a pin or axle 260. Preferably, a bore 61extends entirely through the tab 255 between its ends 256 and 257. Theaxle 260 is mounted between the sides 253 and 254 of the notch 252 andis closely received in the bore 261, such that the tab 255, and thefence 219 connected to it, are mounted for pivotal, swinging movementabout an axis defined by the axle 260. A compression spring 262 is fitover the axle 260 and compressed between the end 256 of the tab 255 andthe side 253 of the notch 252. The compression spring 262 biases the tab255 toward the other side 254 of the notch 252, defined as a neutralstance. In the neutral stance, the end 257 of the tab 255 is in contactagainst the side 254 of the notch 252. In the neutral stance, the fence219 is maintained in a coextensive alignment with the body 211 of thesquare, as shown in FIG. 7 ; the end 241 is registered with the firstcorner 216, and the end 242 is registered with the second corner 217.

The tab 255 is moveable out of this neutral stance into an advancedstance. The advanced stance is not shown, but the user, having read thedescription of the movement of the tab 55 of the square 10 with respectto FIGS. 2A-2D, will understand the discussion below is analogous. Tomove the tab 255 out of the neutral stance and into the advanced stance,the carpenter simply grasps the body of the fence 219 and slides itupward, along the hypotenuse edge 213 of the square 210, along thearrowed line S″ in FIG. 7 . Sliding the fence 219 in this mannercompresses the spring 262 between the end 256 and the side 253, and sothe carpenter must use force to move the fence 219 to the advancedstance.

An engagement assembly prevents accidental movement of the tab 255 outof the third position. When the tab 255 is in the neutral stance whilein the third position, the engagement assembly prevents the fence 219from moving into the first or second positions. Only when the tab 255 isin the advanced stance can the fence 219 be moved to the first or secondpositions. As seen in FIG. 7 , a groove 264 depends slightly into thesecond face 222 of the body 211. The groove 264 is in communication withthe notch 252, extending from the notch 252 across the second face 222of the body 211 toward the second edge 214. An identical groove extendsinto the first face 221 on the other side of the body 211, and anotheridentical groove is formed into the first edge 213 itself. The groovesare individually and collectively identified with the referencecharacter 264, and the reader will understand their structure, location,and function from the description of like grooves 63-65. Each of thegrooves 264 are roughly semi-cylindrical cavities.

A tongue 266 complemental to the grooves 264 is carried on the fence219, and is shown in FIG. 7 in broken, hidden line. The tongue 266 is asemi-cylindrical protrusion formed along the inner edge 244 of the fence219. The tongue 266 has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to thefirst edge 213 of the fence 219. The tongue 266 has a proximal end,which is formed integrally and monolithically to the end 257 of the tab255, and the tongue 266 extends along the first edge to a distal end,presenting a semi-cylindrical convex surface outward between theproximal and distal ends. The tongue 266 is sized and shaped to bereceived within each of the grooves 264 formed in the body 211 of thesquare 210. The tongue 266 and the grooves 264 are identical to thetongue 66 and grooves 63-65 shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, but for location onthe square 210, and the drawings of FIGS. 2A-2D should inform one havingordinary skill in the art, together with this description, of thestructure and location of the tongue 266 and grooves 264.

As the tab 255 moves among the first, second, and third positions of thefence 219, the tongue 266 moves into and out of the grooves 264 totemporarily lock the fence 219 in the first, second, and thirdpositions. When the fence 219 is in the first position, the groove 264in the first face 221 receives the tongue 266, and interaction of thetongue 266 with that groove 264 prevents pivotal movement of the fence219 with respect to the body 211. When the fence 219 is in the secondposition, the groove on the second face 222 receives the tongue 266, andinteraction of the tongue 266 with that groove 264 prevents pivotalmovement of the fence 219 with respect to the body 211. And when thefence 219 is in the third position, the groove 264 on the hypotenuseedge 212 receives the tongue 266, and interaction of the tongue 266 withthat groove 264 prevents pivotal movement of the fence 219 with respectto the body 211.

When the fence 219 is in each of the first, second, and third positions,if the carpenter attempts to pivot the fence 219 to another position,the tongue 266 contacts the side of the respective groove and isprevented from pivotal movement. Thus, each time the tongue 266 isreceived within one of the grooves 264, the fence 219 cannot be movedunless the tab 255 is first moved out of the neutral stance. As such, inthis embodiment, the first, second, and third positions of the fence 219are defined, discrete, and indexed positions. In this embodiment, thefence 219 can only be placed and temporarily locked into one of thesepositions. Other embodiments have a fewer or greater number ofpositions, indexed or otherwise. The fence 219 is temporarily lockedbecause inadvertent or accidental movement out of the position iseffectively prevented, yet a carpenter can easily and purposefully movethe fence 219 out of position by sliding the fence 219 upward into theadvanced stance of the tab 255. As such, the tongue 266 and the grooves264 define an engagement assembly or spring detent assembly for lockingand releasing the fence 219.

When the carpenter desires to move the fence 219 into another position,such as from the third position to the first position, he first slidesthe tab 255 out of the neutral stance and into the advanced stance. Thiscauses the tongue 266 to slide longitudinally out of the groove 264 inthe hypotenuse edge 212. The spring 262 exerts a bias on the tab 255back toward the neutral stance, and so the carpenter must hold the fence219 to prevent it from returning to the neutral stance. While stillgrasping the fence 219 in the advanced stance, the carpenter pivots thefence 219 to the side. When so pivoted, the tongue 266 is registeredwith but longitudinally offset from the groove 264. The carpenter canthen release the fence 219 and allow the spring 262 to bias the fence219 back to the neutral stance, in an opposite direction from thearrowed line S″. When the fence 219 moves back to the neutral stance,the tongue 266 is received by and engages with the groove 264 on thefirst face 221. The fence 219 is now temporarily locked into the firstposition.

The fence 219 is preferably made from the same material as the body 211of the square 210. In some embodiments, the fence 219 includes magneticelements 267, examples of which are shown in broken line in threelocations in the fence 219. The magnetic elements 267 shown in FIG. 7are circular, disc-shaped magnets and are encased within the body 240 ofthe fence 219. In other embodiments, the magnetic elements 267 may beoffset within the body 240 or flush to one of the first or second faces245 and 246. The embodiment shown here has three magnetic elements 267spaced apart along the length of the fence 219. The magnetic elements267 are useful for aligning and holding the square during metalwork.Some embodiments of fence 219 have fewer magnetic elements 267 thanshown here, some have more, and some have no magnetic elements 267 atall.

The square 210 has a dual measurement system. Two different measurementscan be made along the first edge 213. The first edge 213 has two sets ofmeasurements indicators. A first set 271 of measurement indicators ismarked along the first edge 213. This first set 271 is identifiable inFIG. 7 because the measurement numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) are oriented withtheir tops to the left in the drawing. The first set 271 has a zerolocation from which the rest of the indicators in the first set 271 aremeasured and to which the first set 271 corresponds. This zero locationcorresponds to the intersection of lines registered with the first andsecond edges 213 and 214 in the welder's corner 215.

Alternatively, a second set 272 of measurements indicators is markedalong the first edge 213. The second set 272 has a zero location 274from which the rest of the indicators in the second set 272 are measuredand to which the second set 272 corresponds. This zero location 274corresponds to the intersection of the first edge 213 and the diagonaledge 220.

The first and second sets 271 and 272 of measurement indicators sharethe same hash marks 275. The hash marks 275 thus can be read with eitherthe first or the second sets 271 and 272 of measurement indicators,depending on the arrangement of the fence 219. However, the numberedmarkings for the first and second sets 271 and 272 are different. Thesecond zero location 274 is offset from the first zero location, and sothe numbered markings for the second set 272 of measurement indicatorsis offset from the first set 272 of measurements indicators.

Like the square 10 and the square 160, the square 210 preferably carriesa bubble level 280, but the bubble level 280 is different from thebubble levels 82 and 180. The bubble level 280 is one embodiment of abubble level, though it shares many similarities to the bubble level180.

The bubble level 280 has a central hub like the bubble level 180, buthas a semi-annulus encircling the hub instead of a fully circularannulus. A float floats freely between the hub and the semi-annulusdepending on the orientation of the square 210. The bubble level 280 isset into a hold 281 in the body 211 of the square 210. The hold 281 is abore formed through the body 211 from the first face 221 through to thesecond face 221. The bubble level 280 is fit snugly into the hold 281,but in some embodiments, the bubble level 280 is secured in the hold 281not just with a snug fit but with adhesive or some other fastener.

The bubble level 280 is formed from a thin sidewall 283 which ispreferably symmetric about a central axis parallel to the first andsecond faces 221 and 222. The sidewall 283 has an upper wall (shown inFIG. 7 , but similar to the first wall 184 of the bubble level 180) anda lower wall (under the upper wall, similar to the second wall 185 ofthe bubble level 180), which are preferably symmetric to each other. Theupper and lower walls meet at the inner wall of the hold 281. Extendingradially inward from the inner wall, the upper and lower walls expandoutwardly away from each other, until an inflection point 286. Theinflection point 286 is a generally circular boundary between theannulus (outside the inflection point 286) and the hub (inside theinflection point 286). Within the inflection point 286, the upper andlower walls each define a truncated or severed sphere, having only arounded portion which is less than a semi-sphere. Together, the upperand lower walls cooperate to define a roughly egg-shaped space at thehub, within the inflection point 286. In other embodiments, this hub hasother shapes.

Within the inflection point 186, the first and second walls 184 and 185both rise to a top 289 which is flush with or just inboard of the firstand second faces 221 and 222, respectively. As such, the bubble level280 is bound within the body 211 by the first and second faces 221 and222. In other embodiments, the hub or top 289 may extend beyond thesefirst and second faces 221 and 222, but scratching damage to the bubblelevel 280 may be possible in such other embodiments.

The sidewall 283 is preferably transparent, such that the metalworkercan look through the bubble level 280 from either side of the square 210and view an interior 287 of the bubble level 280. The interior 287 issubstantially filled with a fluid, but for a float 288. The float 288 isa small, transparent, and rigid sphere or capsule with a small marking285 such as a dot. The marking 285 is centrally located within the float288, such that the float 288 has spherical symmetry with respect to themarking 285. The float 288 is preferably otherwise empty. It has adensity which is lower than the surrounding fluid, and the float 288rises to the relative top of the fluid depending on the orientation ofthe square 210. In other embodiments of the bubble level 280, the float288 may instead be a simple bubble in the fluid.

Unlike the bubble level 180, the bubble level 280 is severed andincomplete. Instead of the sidewall 283 extending completely around in acontinuous full circle, two interrupting edges 290 and 291 sever theannulus, each extending inward from the perimeter of the bubble level280 to meet at a corner which is offset from the center of the bubblelevel 280. This corner is preferably directed generally toward thewelder's corner 215. The edges 290 and 291 preferably do not run throughthe top 289.

The bubble level 280 includes various indications. The bubble level 280has a bullseye formed by a horizontal line 292 and a vertical line 293at a right angle to the horizontal line, each extending entirely acrossthe diameter of the sidewall 183 and through the top 289 of the sidewall183, on both sides. The horizontal line 292 is parallel to thehypotenuse edge 212, and the vertical line 293 is normal to thehypotenuse edge 212. A circular line 294 is centered at the intersectionof the horizontal and vertical lines 292 and 293. When the square 210 islaid flat, such that its second face 221 is against a horizontalsurface, the float 288 rises to the top 289 and settles somewhere withinor near the circular line 294. This tells the metalworker how close tolevel the horizontal surface actually is. If the float 288 touches partof the circular line 294, then then the horizontal surface is off level,such as by 2% or another value. If the float 288 is further outside thecircular line 294, then the horizontal surface is further off.

The bubble level 280 also allows the metalworker to check a surface forany angle. Radial hash marks 295 are scribed on the annulus of thesidewall 283 just inboard of the inner wall of the hold 281. The hashmarks 295 are angular measurements, with a zero angle corresponding tothe hash mark 295 at the end of the vertical line 293 which is proximatethe second corner 217. If the first edge 213 is laid on a surface thatis, for example, angled at seventeen degrees, the float 288 will rise tothe hash mark 295 corresponding to seventeen degrees (or to a spacebetween hash marks 295 corresponding to sixteen and eighteen degrees, orto some other space between hash marks 295 flanking seventeen degrees).

In the embodiment shown here, the bubble level 280 occupies a largeportion of the middle of the body 211 of the square 210. Because of thesize of the bubble level 280, the square 210 preferably does not includea medial slit 22, a second slot 30, a laser 80, or a jig block 81. Inother embodiments, however, the bubble level 280 is smaller or larger,as needed for the particular implementation and work to be done with thesquare 210. And in such other embodiments, the square 210 includes amedial slit 22, a second slot 30, a laser 80, a jig block 81, or somecombination of those elements. The scope of this disclosure and theembodiments described includes all permutations of the variousstructural elements and features of all embodiments disclosed herein.

FIGS. 8-10B illustrate a carpenter level 310. The carpenter's level 310is exemplary of any of several elongate levels, such as a box level,mason's level, torpedo level, post level, and other like levels. Thecarpenter level 310 here is long, such as four feet in length, but inother embodiments is only a few inches long or eight feet long.

The carpenter level 310 includes a frame 311 carrying a round bubblelevel 312 and two square bubble levels 313. The carpenter level 310 isuseful for finding level, plumb, and all angles of measurement.

The frame 311 is elongate, extending between two opposed ends 320 and321 which are preferably blunt and parallel to each other. The frame 311has long top and bottom edges 322 and 323, and long front and back faces324 and 325. The back face 325 is shown in FIG. 9B but not in FIG. 8 .The top and bottom edges 322 and 323 are normal to the ends 320 and 321and to the faces 324 and 325. The ends 320 and 321, the top and bottomedges 322 and 323, and the front and back faces 324 and 325 cooperate togive the frame 311 a generally box-like or rectangular prismaticappearance.

The frame 311 includes three holds: a first or left hold 331, and asecond or right hold 332, and a third or intermediate hold 333. Theholds 331, 332, and 333 are voids in the frame 311 which receive andhold the bubble levels 312 and 313. The hold 331 is proximate to the end320 and is referred to as a left hold 331 only for convenience andwithout the scope of the disclosure. The hold 332 is proximate to theother end 321 and is referred to as a right hold 332 only forconvenience and without limiting the scope of the disclosure. The hold333 is located in an intermediate position between the ends 320 and 321,preferably but not necessarily halfway between the ends 320 and 321. Itis referred to as an intermediate hold 333 only for convenience andwithout limiting the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the round bubble level 312 set into theintermediate hold 333. The bubble level 312 is circular in shape andincludes an annular perimeter tube and a plurality of hash marks toindicate a relative angular displacement of the box level 310.

Referring to both FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, the bubble level 312 includes atube 340 surrounding a middle 341. A float 342 moves around the tube 340to the top-most location, and markings 343 on the middle 341 allow thecarpenter to identify the angular displacement of the box level 310.

The tube 340 has a thin sidewall 344 which is preferably symmetric abouta central axis extending normal through the box level 310. The sidewall344 is preferably transparent and preferably circular in cross-section,as shown in FIG. 9B. In other embodiments, the sidewall 344 has othershapes and configurations. The outer diameter of the sidewall 344 isequal to or less than the thickness of the frame 311 between the frontand back faces 324 and 325, such that the sidewall 344 is unlikely to bescratched by surface contact on the front and back faces 324 and 325.

The sidewall 344 bounds and defines an annular interior 345 of thebubble level 312. The interior 345 is substantially filled with a fluid346 but for the float 342. The float 342 is a small, rigid, andpreferably transparent sphere with a small marking 347 such as a dot.The marking 347 is centrally located within the float 342, such that thefloat 342 has spherical symmetry with respect to the marking 347. Thefloat 342 is otherwise preferably empty. It has a density which is lowerthan the surrounding fluid 346, and the float 342 rises to the relativeor local top of the fluid 346 depending on the orientation of the boxlevel 310. In other embodiments of the bubble level 312, the float 342may instead be a simple bubble in the fluid 346.

The tube 340 surrounds the middle 341. The middle is a disc-shaped solidframe element, seated within the tube 340. Like the frame 311 of thelevel 310, it has opposed front and back faces 350 and 351. The frontand back faces 350 and 351 are preferably coplanar to the correspondingfront and back and faces 324 and 325 of the frame 311, such that themiddle 341 has the same thickness as the frame 311. In otherembodiments, the middle 341 is thinner than the frame 311, and the frontand back faces 350 and 351 are closer together than pictured here inFIG. 9B.

The middle 341 has a perimeter 352 which is in contact with an innerside of the tube 340. Along the perimeter, but on the front and backfaces 350 and 351, the middle 341 is marked with the markings 343. Themarkings 343 include radial hash marks 353 scribed into or onto thefront and back faces 350 and 351 just inboard of the perimeter 352. Thehash marks 353 are angular measurements, with a zero angle correspondingto the two opposed hash marks 353 proximate the top and bottom edges 322and 323. Some of the hash marks 353 are marked with numerical references354 so that the carpenter can quickly and easily identify the angle.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , the bubble level 312 occupies anintermediate location in the box level 310. In other embodiments, it canbe located in other parts of the box level 310. Or, it can be switchedwith the square levels 313.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of the square bubble level 313 set into thefirst hold 331, proximate the end 320. The square bubble level 313 inthe second hold 332 is identical to the bubble level 313 in the firsthold 331 in every respect but location. As such, description here willbe made only with respect to the bubble level 313 in the first hold 331,with the understanding that it applies equally to the bubble level 313in the second hold 332. The bubble level 313 is very roughly square inshape and includes an annular perimeter tube and a plurality of hashmarks to indicate a relative angular displacement of the box level 310.

Referring to both FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, the bubble level 313 includes atube 360 surrounding a middle 361. A float 362 moves around the tube 360to the top-most location, and markings 363 on the tube 360 allow thecarpenter to identify the angular displacement of the box level 310. Thetube 360 is generally square in shape and has four sections 360 a, 360b, 360 c, and 360 d.

The tube 360 has a thin sidewall 364 which is preferably transparent andpreferably oval in cross-section, as shown in FIG. 10B. In otherembodiments, the sidewall 364 has other shapes and configurations. Thesidewall 364 has a dimension which is equal to or less than thethickness of the frame 311 between the front and back faces 324 and 325,such that the sidewall 364 is unlikely to be scratched by surfacecontact on the front and back faces 324 and 325.

The sidewall 364 bounds and defines a roughly square interior 365 of thebubble level 313. The interior 365 is substantially filled with a fluid366 but for the float 362. The float 362 is a small, rigid, andpreferably transparent sphere or disk with a small marking 367 such as adot. The marking 367 is centrally located within the float 362, suchthat the float 362 has symmetry with respect to the marking 367. Thefloat 362 is otherwise preferably empty. It has a density which is lowerthan the surrounding fluid 366, and the float 362 rises to the relativeor local top of the fluid 366 depending on the orientation of the boxlevel 310. In other embodiments of the bubble level 313, the float 362may instead be a simple bubble in the fluid 366.

The tube 360 surrounds the middle 361. The tube 360 has a continuousinner edge 370 bounding the middle 361 and an opposed continuous outeredge 371. The continuous inner edge 370 is square: it includes fourlinear edges of the same length each parallel to one other linear edgeand perpendicular to two other linear edges. This defines the middle 361as a square-shaped element. However, the continuous outer edge 371 isonly roughly square. The outer edge 371 is slightly convex outwardbetween the four corners of the outer edge 371. Although the float 362appears large in FIG. 10A, the corners are large enough that the float362 can move between the four sections 360 a-360 d of the tube 360without impedance. FIG. 10B shows a preferred size of the float 362 moreclearly, without magnification of the transparent sidewall 364.

The float 362 moves freely throughout the bubble level 313 in responseto movement of the box level 310. Each of the four sections 360 a-360 dof the square bubble level 313 has two spaced-apart markings 363 whichare level lines. The sections 360 a and 360 c are parallel to the topand bottom edges 322 and 323, the sections 360 b and 360 d are parallelto the ends 320 and 321. In each section 360 a-360 d, the outer edge 371is furthest from the inner edge 370 between the markings 363, such thatthe markings 363 represent a local top of each section 360 a-360 d. Themarkings 363 are spaced apart from each other at a distance just greaterthan the outer dimension of the float 362. When the top or bottom edge322 or 323 is placed against an object and the float 362 is between themarkings 363 in the section 360 c or 360 a, respectively, the bubblelevel 313 indicates that the surface of the object has particularmeasurement, such as level. If the float 362 touches one of the markings363, however, then the surface of the object is off that measurement,such as aby 2% or another value. And if the float 362 is further outsidethe markings 363, then the surface of the object is even further offthat measurement.

The middle 361 is a solid square frame element, seated within the tube360. Like the frame 311 of the level 310, it has opposed front and backfaces 372 and 373. The front and back faces 372 and 373 are preferablycoplanar to the corresponding front and back and faces 324 and 325 ofthe frame 311, such that the middle 361 has the same thickness as theframe 311. In other embodiments, the middle 361 is thinner than theframe 311, and the front and back faces 372 and 373 are closer togetherthan pictured here in FIG. 10B.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , the bubble levels 313 occupylocations proximate the ends 320 and 321 in the box level 310. In otherembodiments, either or both of the levels 313 can be located in otherparts of the box level 310. Or, it can be switched with the round level312. Further, it should be understood that the bubble levels 312 and 313could be incorporated into the carpenter squares 10, 110, 160, and 210described above, either by replacing or adding the level features inthose squares, and such incorporation is considered to be within thescope of this disclosure. Moreover, the levels and other features, suchas the laser or jig, described with respect to the carpenters square 10,110, 160, and 210 could be incorporated into the box level 310 (or othersimilar levels, such as a box level, mason's level, torpedo level, postlevel, and other like levels) without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure. The scope of this disclosure and the embodiments describedincludes all permutations of the various structural elements andfeatures of all embodiments disclosed herein.

Embodiment of FIGS. 11A-12G

FIGS. 11A-12G illustrate another embodiment of a carpenter square 410(hereinafter, the “square 410”). The square 410 is similar to the aboveembodiments, including the square 10. As such, many of the referencecharacters used with other embodiments are also used here to identifythe same or similar structural elements or features. For instance, thesquare 410 includes a body 11 having three edges. The square 410 has: 1)a hypotenuse edge 12 opposite a right corner 15; 2) a short first edge13 extending between the right corner 15 and a first corner 16 formed byand between the short first edge 13 and the hypotenuse edge 12; and 3) ashort second edge 14 extending between the right corner 15 and a secondcorner 17 formed by and between the short second edge 14 and thehypotenuse edge 12. These three edges cooperate to define a perimeteredge 18 of the body 11 of the square 410 itself. Not all structuralelements and features of the square 410 are described, as the reader iswell familiar with those structural elements and features from the restof this description.

Pivoted to the first edge 13 is a fence 411. The fence 411 is a roughlyrectangular piece of material coextensive to the first edge 13. Thefence 411 pivots between preferably three indexed positions similar tothose of the fence 19: a first position in which the fence 411 is normalto the body 11 in a first direction; a second position in which thefence 411 is normal to the body 11 in a second direction, opposite thefirst direction; and a third position in which the fence 411 is coplanarto the body 11. These positions correspond to the first, second, andthird positions of the square 10 as shown in FIG. 1C.

When the fence 411 is in either of the first or second positions, acarpenter can lay most of the square 410 flat on a surface with thefence 411 against a straight edge and can mark lines on the surface. Thenormal arrangement of the fence 411 to the body 11 of the square 410makes quick alignment of the square 410 easy. If the carpenter desiresto lay the square 410 entirely on the workpiece and inboard from thestraight edge, however, he need only move the fence 411 to the thirdposition, such that the fence 411 is aligned coplanar to the body 11 andthe entirety of the square 410 can be laid flat on the workpiece.

The body 11 of the square 410 is generally triangular, because theperimeter edge 18 generally has three major sides or lengths. The firstand second edges 13 and 14 meet at the right corner 15, and the secondedge 14 and hypotenuse edge 12 meet at the acute second corner 17. Thefirst edge 13 and the hypotenuse edge 12 meet at the first corner 16,which is acute, but is blunted or truncated by a short fourth edge. Assuch, the perimeter edge 18 technically has four sides or four edges,but the very short side at the first corner 16 is so small that thethree major sides of the edges 12, 13, and 14 dominate the appearance ofthe square 410 such that the body 11 generally is triangular. In thisway, the square 410 somewhat peculiarly has a triangular body 11 definedby a perimeter edge 18 with four sides.

The body 11 is preferably constructed from a material or combination ofmaterials with rugged, strong, durable, and hard materialcharacteristics. Preferably, the body 11 is made from metal, hard wood,plastic, or like materials offering these characteristics.

The body 11 has a first face 420 and an opposed second face 421. Thefaces 420 and 421 are flat and parallel to each other, spaced apart by awidth of the body 11. The faces are marked with a plurality ofindications and measurements. Moreover, slots and slits are formedthrough the body 11 entirely from the first face 420 through to thesecond face 421. As shown in previous embodiments, the slots and slitsmay have various arrangements and embodiments, and the slots and slitsof those other embodiments are incorporated here and should beconsidered as included variations of the embodiment of the square 410shown here.

For example, in the embodiment shown here, a medial slit 422 extendsdiagonally through the body 11. The medial slit 422 is linear orstraight. The medial slit 422 extends generally at a forty-five-degreeangle with respect to both the first and second edges 13 and 14, roughlyintermediate those two edges 13 and 14. In other embodiments, the medialslit 422 has other shapes, orientations, and arrangements, and theembodiment shown in FIGS. 11A-11B is not limiting. The medial slit 422may be useful for making markings on the workpiece below the square 410but may be useful with a jig block 81 for laying out cut patterns, asdescribed with respect to the square 10 embodiment.

A hypotenuse slot 423, is formed parallel to and inboard of thehypotenuse edge 12. The hypotenuse slot 423 has opposed major sides 424and opposed diagonal minor ends 425. The major sides 424 are bothparallel to the hypotenuse edge 12, and the major side 424 proximate tothe hypotenuse edge 12 is larger than the major side 424 distal to thehypotenuse edge 12. The minor ends 425 are diagonal and directed inwardat approximately forty-five degrees, such that the minor end 425proximate the first edge 13 is parallel to the first edge 13 and theminor end 425 proximate to the second edge 14 is parallel to the secondedge 14. Thus, the hypotenuse slot 423 has the appearance of anisosceles trapezoid. The hypotenuse slot 423 is open from the first face420 through to the second face 421 such that a pencil can be passedthrough it to make markings on a workpiece underneath. Along both majorsides 34, the first face 20 is marked with measured indicators. In otherembodiments, the hypotenuse slot 423, if existent, has other shapes,orientations, and arrangements.

In this embodiment, the square 410 has another slot 426. The slot 426 isparallel to and inboard of the first edge 13. The slot 426 has opposedmajor sides 427 and opposed diagonal minor ends 428. The major sides 427are both parallel to the first edge 13, and the major side 427 proximateto the first edge 13 is larger than the major side 427 distal to thefirst edge 13. The minor ends 428 are diagonal and directed inward atapproximately forty-five degrees, such that the minor end 428 proximatethe second edge 14 is canted away from the second edge 14 and the minorend 428 distal to the second edge 14 is canted toward the second edge14. Thus, the slot 426 has the appearance of an isosceles trapezoid. Insome embodiments, the slot 426, if existent, has other shapes,orientations, and arrangements.

The slot 426 is open from the first face 420 through to the second face421, such that a pencil can be passed through the slot 426 to makemarkings on a workpiece underneath the slot 426. Along the major side427 which is proximate the first edge 13 of the square 10, the firstface 20 is marked with measured indicators. In this embodiment, themeasured indicators 429 are shown in imperial system measurements ofinches and divisions thereof, as measured from the second edge 14. Sincethe slot 426 is offset from the second edge 14, the first of themeasured indicators 429 is a two-inch marking. In other embodiments, themeasured indicators 429 are shown in metric system measurements. Indeed,all markings on the square 410 (or other squares in this disclosure) maybe shown in imperial, metric, or any other system of measurement.

The fence 411 is hinged to the body 11 to move or swing between thethree indexed positions. Although in other embodiments, the fence 411pivots between an alternate number of positions, the embodiment shownhere pivots between three for ease and clarity of understanding. Forexample, the fence 411 can move between one, two, three, four, five, ormore positions. After reading this description, one having ordinaryskill in the art will readily appreciate how the fence 411 moves amongan alternate number of positions in such other embodiments.

Still referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, but also FIGS. 12A-12G, the fence411 has a body 430 which is generally rectangular prismatic and whichextends between two opposed ends 431 and 432. The ends 431 and 432 areflat and parallel to each other, and both are parallel to the secondedge 14. The body 430 of the fence 411 includes a fence edge 433extending between the two ends 431 and 432 and directed away from thebody 11 of the square 410. The fence edge 433 is straight anduninterrupted by notches, projections, divots, or other features whichwould prevent the fence edge 433 from defining a straight line. Oppositethe fence edge 433, the body 430 of the fence 411 includes an inner edge434 directed toward the first edge 13 of the body 11 of the square 410.Like the first edge 13, the inner edge 434 is interrupted by hingeassemblies which pivotally couple the fence 411 to the body 11 of thesquare 410 at the first edge 13 thereof.

The inner edge 434 has three depressions: a first depression 437, asecond depression 438, and a third depression 439. Each of thedepressions 437, 438, and 439 is a slight recess formed into the body430 of the fence 411, recessed away from the inner edge 434 thereof.

The body 430 of the fence 411 has a first face 435 and an opposed secondface 436. The first and second faces 435 and 436 are flat and parallelto each other, spaced apart by the same width that defines the width ofthe body 11 of the square 410. When the fence 411 is arranged in itsthird position, the first face 420 of the fence 411 is registered withand coplanar to the first face 420 of the body 11, and the second face421 is registered with and coplanar to the second face 421 of the body11. The first and second faces 435 and 436 of the fence 411 are bothmarked with measured indicators along the fence edge 433. The measuredindicators on the first and second faces are the same, starting at thefirst end 431 and increasing in number toward the opposed end 432. Aswith other embodiments, the first and second faces carry two offsetmeasurements along the second edge 14; repeated discussion of those twosets of measurements is not necessary, their description beingincorporated by reference herein.

The fence 411 mounts to the body 11 of the square 410 at preferably twohinge assemblies 440 which include structural features and elements onboth the fence 411 and the body 11 such as, but not limited to, a notchin the body, a recess in the notch, a pin in the notch, a tab on thefence, and the depressions 437, 438, and 439 in the fence 411, as wellas various flat faces and edges of both the fence 411 and the body 11themselves. The hinge assemblies 440 are identical in structure anddiffer only in location, and as such, the reader will understand thatthe description of one hinge assembly 440 applies equally to thedescription of the other hinge assembly 440. In other embodiments, theremay be fewer or more hinge assemblies 440.

The first edge 13 has a flat surface and is squared, forming sharp,rectangular corners with both the first and second faces of the body 11.Inboard of the second edge 14 on the side of the square 10, a notch 441interrupts the first edge 13. The notch 441 is blind and rectangularprismatic. It extends into the body 11 of the square 410, terminating atan inner wall 442, which extends between two opposed sides 443 and 444of the notch 441. The notch 441 defines a rectangular prismaticreceiving space which is larger than a tab 445 on the fence 411 whichfits into the notch 441. Sharp squared corners define all edges of thenotch 441 and the tab 445. The notch 441 presents two spaced-apart innerfaces 446 toward the fence 411. The inner faces 446 are flat, and aresquared with respect to the first and second faces of the body 11. Theinner faces 446 may also be referred to as notch faces.

The inner faces 446 are spaced apart by a recess 447 which extendsfurther into the body 11 of the square 410 from the first edge 13 thandoes the notch 441. The recess 447 is located generally intermediatelywith respect to the sides 443 and 444 of the notch 441, and the recess447 spaces the two flat inner faces 446 apart from each other. Therecess 447 thus defines a depression into the body 11 with respect tothe inner faces 446. The recess 447 corresponds in width to the tab 445;the distance between the inner faces 446 corresponds to the distancebetween the ends of the tab 445.

The tab 445 is an integral, unitary, monolithic rectangular prismaticprojection of the body 430 of the fence 411 at the inner edge 434 of thefence 411. The tab 445 has two opposed ends 450 which project toward thebody 11 of the square 410, normal to the inner edge 434 and to an inneredge 452 extending between the ends. Like the inner edge 434 of thefence 411 itself, the inner edge 452 of the tab 445 is flat and issquared with respect to the first and second faces 435 and 436 of thefence 411. The first and second faces 435 and 436 of the fence 411extend and cover the tab 445 and so are considered to be first andsecond faces of the tab 445, and the inner edge 452 is considered athird face, all of which are flat.

The distance between the ends 450 and 451 of the tab 445 isapproximately half to two-thirds of the distance between the sides 443and 444 of the notch 441, and so the tab 445 laterally fits easilywithin the notch 441. The distance between the ends 450 and 451 of thetab 445 corresponds to the width of the recess 447 such that the tab 445can just fit within the recess 447.

The tab 445 is mounted on a pin or axle 453. Preferably, a bore extendsentirely through the tab 445 between its ends 450 and 451. The axle 453is mounted between the sides 443 and 444 of the notch 441 and is closelyreceived in the bore, such that the tab 445, and the fence 411 connectedto it, are fit over the axle 453 and mounted both reciprocal movementalong the axle 453 and for pivotal, swinging movement about an axisdefined by the axle 453. In some embodiments, a compression spring isfit over the axle 453 and compressed between one of the ends 450, 451 ofthe tab 445 and the corresponding side 443, 444 of the notch 441. Insuch embodiments, the compression spring biases the tab 445 toward theother side of the notch 441. In other embodiments, as shown in thesefigures, there is no compression spring over the axle 453.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a neutral stance of the fence 411. In the neutralstance, the tab 445 disables movement of the fence 411 among its threepositions. In the neutral stance, the inner edge 452 of the tab 445 isin confrontation and abutting contact against the inner face 446 of thenotch 441.

The first, second, and third depressions 437, 438, and 439 are eachmis-registered, or out of registration with the first edge 13, meaningthat they at most only partially overlie or oppose the first edge 13.The second depression 438 overlies a portion of the first edge 13 butalso a portion of one of the notches 441. The third depression 439overlies a portion of the first edge 13 but also a portion of the otherof the notches 441.

In the neutral stance, the fence 411 is maintained in a coextensivealignment with the body 11 of the square 410; the end 431 of the fence411 is registered with the second edge 14 of the square 410, and the end432 is registered with the first corner 16. The flat inner edge 452 andthe flat inner face 446 are in confrontation in direct abutting contact,preventing movement of the fence 411 relative to the body 11 of thesquare 410.

While the neutral stance disables movement of the fence 411 among itsthree positions, the fence 411 is nonetheless moveable out of thisneutral stance into an advanced stance, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B.In the advanced stance, the fence 411 enables movement of the fence 411among its three positions. To move the fence 411 and tab 445 out of theneutral stance and into the advanced stance, the carpenter simply graspsthe body of the fence 411 and slides it upward with respect to the body11 of the square 410, along the first edge 13 of the square 410, alongthe arrowed line S in FIGS. 12A and 12E. The tab is so mounted and movesreciprocally between the neural and advanced stances along the axle 453and the arrowed line S. In embodiments in which a spring is fit over theaxle 453, the carpenter must use sufficient force to overcome the springforce and move the fence 411 to the advanced stance.

By moving the fence 411 along the line S into the advanced stance, thecarpenter registers or laterally aligns the tab 445 with the recess 447in the notch 441. Moreover, the first depression 437 in the fence 411 isregistered opposite the first edge 13 proximate the second edge 14, thesecond depression 438 is registered opposite the first edge 13 betweenthe notches 441, and the third depression 439 is registered opposite thefirst edge 13 proximate the first corner 16. When so registered, thefence 411 is enabled for pivotal movement with respect to the body 11,as shown in FIGS. 12B and 12F along the arcuate arrowed line P. When thefence 411 is pivoted, the tab 445 enters and pivots through the recess447, which extends sufficiently far into the body 11 such that the tab445 can pivot entirely through it without interference. Moreover, thefirst edge 13 of the body 11 of the square 410 enters, moves, and pivotsthrough the first, second, and third depressions 437, 438, and 439,which each extend sufficiently far into the body 430 of the fence 411such that the first edge 13 can pivot entirely though them withoutinterference. In the advanced stance of the fence 411, registration andthe correspondence of the tab 445 and recess 447 enables pivotalmovement of the fence 411 among the first, second, and third positions.

Once the fence 411 is moved to the position shown in FIGS. 12B and 12F(first position, advanced stance), the carpenter can slide the fence 411back along the arrowed line S′ in FIG. 12C, which is opposite thearrowed line S. This moves the fence 411 into the first position,neutral stance, as shown in FIGS. 12D and 12G. In the first position,the tab 445 and the inner edge 452 thereof is moved out of registrationwith the recess 447. The inner edge 434 of the fence 411 is placed inflat, abutting, confronting, but slidable contact with the second face421 of the body 11 of the square 410. The fence 411 is now lockedagainst the second face 421 in the first position, unable to pivot.

The carpenter can also move the fence 411 into the second position in asimilar manner, but by instead pivoting the fence 411 in an oppositepivotal direction to the line P.

As the fence 411 moves among the first, second, and third positions, theinner edge 452 of the tab 445 moves into and out of registration withthe recess 447 and out of and into contact with the flat first andsecond faces 420 and 421 of the body 11 of the square 410.

When the fence 411 is in the first position and the neutral stance, theinner edge 434 of the fence 411 is in flat, confronting, abutting, butslidable contact with the second face 421 of the body 11 of the square410. The inner face 446 of the notch 441 confronts the second face 436of the tab 445. The inner edge 434 of the fence 411 and the second face421 of the body 11 of the square 410 confront each other. When the fence411 is in the first position and the neutral stance thereof, the fence411 is disabled from movement out of the first position; when it is inthe advanced stance, the fence 411 is enabled for movement out of thefirst position.

When the fence 411 is in the second position and the neutral stance, theinner edge 434 of the fence 411 is in flat, abutting, but slidablecontact with the first face 420 of the body 11 of the square 410. Theinner face 446 of the notch 441 confronts the first face 435 of the tab445. The inner edge 434 of the fence 411 and the first face 420 of thebody 11 of the square 410 confront each other. When the fence 411 is inthe neutral stance thereof, the fence 411 is disabled from movement outof the second position; when it is in the advanced stance, the fence 411is enabled for movement out of the second position.

When the fence 411 is in the third position and the neutral stance, theinner edge 434 of the fence 411 is in flat, abutting, but slidablecontact with the first edge 13 of the body 11 of the square 410. Theinner face 446 of the notch 441 confronts the inner edge 452 of the tab445. The inner edge 434 of the fence 411 and the first edge 13 of thebody 11 of the square 410 confront each other. When the fence 411 is inthe neutral stance thereof, the fence 411 is disabled from movement outof the third position; when it is in the advanced stance, the fence 411is enabled for movement out of the third position.

When the fence 411 is in each of the first, second, and third positions,if the carpenter attempts to pivot the fence 411 to another position,the flat inner edge 434 of the fence 411 in contact with the flat facesof the body 11 prevents pivotal movement of the fence 411. Thus, thefence 411 cannot be moved unless the tab 445 is first moved out of theneutral stance and into registration with the recess 447. As such, inthis embodiment, the first, second, and third positions of the fence 411are defined, discrete, and indexed positions. In this embodiment, thefence 411 can only be placed and temporarily locked into one of thesethree indexed positions. Other embodiments have a fewer or greaternumber of positions, indexed or otherwise. The fence 411 is temporarilylocked because inadvertent or accidental movement out of the position iseffectively prevented, yet a carpenter can easily and purposefully movethe fence 411 out of position by sliding the fence 411 upward into theadvanced stance. As such, the above structural elements and featuresdefine an engagement assembly for locking and releasing the fence 411with respect to the body 11 of the square 410.

Referring back to FIG. 11A, the square 410 also includes a bubble level140 like that described with respect to the embodiment in the square 110of FIG. 4 .

Embodiment of FIGS. 13A-14E

FIGS. 13A-14E show an alternate embodiment of the square 410′ withadditional features. The square 410′ is identical in almost all respectsto the square 410, and as such, this description uses the same referencecharacters for the structural elements and features common to bothembodiments. Moreover, complete depiction and detailed description ofthose common structural elements and features is not presented herein,as such description is redundant and unnecessary, and the reader willalready understand the relevant structure of the square 410′ from theabove description of the square 410 and its corresponding drawings. Thesquare 410′ includes a spring detent 460 that snaps into a catch 465 tohelp lock the fence 411 in position.

Turning to the enlarged view of FIG. 13B, the spring detent 460 is asmall, flat, slender finger 461 extending forwardly from the tab 445,parallel to the inner edge 434. The finger 461 has an inner face 463which is contiguous to and forms part of the inner edge 434. The finger461 terminates in a head 462 which is directed toward the body 11 of thesquare 410′. The finger 461 is spaced apart from the fence by a slendergap 464 extending along the length of the finger 461. The finger 461 isspringy, resilient, and capable of deforming into the gap 464 andreturning to the position and arrangement shown in FIG. 13B.

The spring detent 460 engages with the catch 465, which is a slit ornotch extending into the body 11 of the square 410′ from the first edge13 thereof. The catch 465 has a width which corresponds in size to thewidth of the head 462 of the finger 461. As such, the head 462 snapsinto and fits within the catch 465, as shown in FIG. 13C.

When the fence 411 is moved along the body 11 of the square 410′ alongthe lines S and S′ as described above, the spring detent 460 pops intoand out of the catch 465. When the detent 460 is in the catch 465, itexerts a friction force acting to prevent inadvertent movement of thefence 411; a sufficient force must be applied to the fence 411 to moveit along lines S. Once that force has been applied and the fence 411 ismoved, the spring detent 460 pops out of the catch 465, and the fence411 can be slid along lines S. This movement is shown in FIGS. 14A-14E.

In FIG. 14A, the fence 411 is in the third position, neutral stance. Thetab 445 is received in the notch 441, and the fence 411 is disabled frommovement out of the third position. Further ensuring that fence 411 isnot accidentally moved, the spring detent 460 is engaged with the catch465. The fence 411 will not move out of the neutral stance unless theuser applies sufficient force to bias the spring detent 460 out ofengagement with the catch 465.

In FIG. 14B (and enlarged FIG. 14D), the user has done just that. Byapplying force along the line S in FIG. 14B, the user overcomes thespring force engaging the head 462 in the catch 465. The spring detent460 is pushed back into the gap 464. The head 462 pops out of the catch465 and begins to slide along the first edge 13. This movement continuesthrough FIG. 14C (and enlarged FIG. 14E).

In FIG. 14E (and FIG. 14C), the head 462 is about to enter the recess447 of the notch 441. Once it does, the head 462 will have cleared thefirst edge 13, and the fence 411 can be pivoted to move it into thefirst or second position thereof.

Embodiment of FIGS. 15A-15C

FIGS. 15A-15C illustrate a carpenter square 480 (hereinafter, the“square 480”). The square 480 has similarities to the above embodiments,including the square 10. As such, many of the above reference charactersmay be used here to identify the same or similar structural elements orfeatures. For instance, the square 480 includes a body 11 having threeedges. The square 480 has: 1) a hypotenuse edge 12 opposite a rightcorner 15; 2) a short first edge 13 extending between the right corner15 and a first corner 16 formed by and between the short first edge 13and the hypotenuse edge 12; and 3) a short second edge 14 extendingbetween the right corner 15 and a second corner 17 formed by and betweenthe short second edge 14 and the hypotenuse edge 12. These three edgescooperate to define a perimeter edge 18 of the body 11 of the square 480itself. Not all structural elements and features of the square 480 aredescribed, as the reader is well familiar with those structural elementsand features from the rest of this description.

Pivoted to the first edge 13 is a fence 19. The fence 19 is a roughlyrectangular piece of material coextensive to the first edge 13. Thefence 19 pivots between preferably three indexed positions similar tothose of the fence 19: a first position in which the fence 19 is normalto the body 11 in a first direction; a second position in which thefence 19 is normal to the body 11 in a second direction, opposite thefirst direction; and a third position in which the fence 19 is coplanarto the body 11. This embodiment of the carpenter square 480 can also bemodified to incorporate a fence like the fence 411 in the square 410 orlike the fences in other embodiments of the carpenter square.

The body 11 has a first face 482 and an opposed second face 483. Thefaces 482 and 483 are flat and parallel to each other, spaced apart by awidth of the body 11. The faces 482 and 483 are marked with a pluralityof indications and measurements. Moreover, slots and slits are formedthrough the body 11 entirely from the first face 482 through to thesecond face 483. As shown in previous embodiments, the slots and slitsmay have various arrangements and embodiments, and the slots and slitsof those other embodiments are incorporated here and should beconsidered as included variations of the embodiment of the square 480shown here.

For example, the square 480 includes first and second slits 484 and 485.The first slit 484 is parallel to and inboard of the first edge 13. Thefirst slit 484 has a first end 490 inboard of the second edge 14 and anopposed second end 491 inboard of a hypotenuse slot 486. In otherembodiments, the first slit 484 has other shapes, orientations, andarrangements, and the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15A-15C is not limiting.The second slit 485 is parallel to and inboard of the second edge 14.The second slit 485 has a first end 492 inboard of the first edge 13 andan opposed second end 493 inboard of the hypotenuse slot 486. In otherembodiments, the second slit 485 has other shapes, orientations, andarrangements, and the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15A-15C is not limiting.Both of the first and second slits 484 and 485 are useful with the jigblock 81 for laying out cut patterns, as shown in FIGS. 15B and 15C.

FIGS. 15B and 15C show the jig block 81 applied to the first and secondslits 484 and 485, respectively. The jig block 81 converts the square480 into a jig which quickly and easily lays out a pattern of lines formarking cuts along an edge of a workpiece, such as for making thepatterned cuts of a stair stringer from a 2×12 piece of lumber.

The jig block 81 is a thin piece of material, preferably made from thesame material as the body 11 of the square 480. The jig block 81 has along edge 100. The long edge 100 is straight and uninterrupted bynotches, projections, divots, or other discontinuities. The embodimentof the jig block 81 shown in these drawings has four other edges,arranged to form an irregular pentagon shape roughly similar to abaseball home plate. Other shapes are suitable, so long as the jig block81 preferably has a long edge 100.

In use, the jig block 81 is taken up by hand and placed against one ofthe first and second faces 20 and 21. In FIGS. 15B, as an example only,the jig block 81 is placed against the first face 20. The jig block 81is oriented such that its long edge 100 is generally directed toward theright corner 15 and its through-hole 101 is registered with the secondslit 485. The carpenter takes a set screw 103 and passes it through thethrough-hole 101 and the second slit 485. In some embodiments, the setscrew 103 may screw directly into the second slit 485, but, morepreferably, a nut is placed over the free end of the set screw 103 andis tightened thereon, thereby binding the jig block 81 against the body11 of the square 480.

Once the jig block 81 is attached to the face 20 of the square 480, thesquare 10 is taken up by hand, inverted, and placed over a workpiecesuch as a piece of lumber. The workpiece has an outer edge along whichcuts are to be made. To place the entire face 20 of the square 480 ontop of the workpiece 108, the carpenter must move the fence 19 to itsthird position, flat and coplanar with respect to the body 11 of thesquare 480.

The carpenter manipulates the square 480 so that the long edge 100 ofthe jig block 81 is placed in direct and continuous contact with theouter edge of the workpiece. This causes the right corner 15 and much ofthe body 11 of the square 480 to become disposed over the workpiece.

The carpenter then adjusts the jig block 81 to ensure the square 480marks out a desired pattern. The carpenter will have a predeterminedpattern to cut, and applying the jig block 81 to the second slit 485enables the carpenter to cut that pattern. With the long edge 100 of thejig block 81 against the workpiece, the carpenter loosens the set screw103 slightly so that the square 480 can be moved with respect to the jigblock 81. The carpenter moves the square 480 to achieve the desired riseand run. This may require sliding the square 480 so that the jig block81 moves up or down along the second slit 485. It may also requirerotating the body 11 of the square 480 while the jig block 81 ismaintained against the outer edge of the piece of lumber.

When the carpenter has aligned the square 480 on the workpiece such thatthe outer edge crosses the desired rise and run measurements, hetightens the set screw 103. With the square 480 properly dialed, thecarpenter can now quickly lay out cut lines by marking birdsmouth cuts,translating the square 480 to make subsequent birdsmouth cuts, andrepeating that process. He continues to translate the square 10 and marksuccessive lines, quickly laying out the needed cut pattern.

FIG. 15C shows the same square according to the above description, butwith the jig block 81 applied to the first slit 484 instead of thesecond slit 485. The reader will understand that the above descriptionis equally applicable with substitution of the first slit 484 for thesecond slit 485.

A preferred embodiment is fully and clearly described above so as toenable one having skill in the art to understand, make, and use thesame. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may bemade to the description above without departing from the spirit of thespecification, and that some embodiments include only those elements andfeatures described, or a subset thereof. To the extent thatmodifications do not depart from the spirit of the specification, theyare intended to be included within the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carpenter tool comprising: a triangular bodyincluding a hypotenuse edge opposite a right corner, a first edgeextending between the right corner and the hypotenuse edge, and a secondedge extending between the right corner and the hypotenuse edge oppositethe first edge; a fence pivoted to the first edge for movement betweenfirst and second positions; in the first position, the fence is normalto the triangular body; and in the second position, the fence iscoplanar to the triangular body.
 2. The carpenter tool of claim 1,wherein: the triangular body includes opposed first and second bodyfaces, and the fence includes opposed first and second fence faces; inthe first position, the first body face is normal to the first andsecond fence faces, and the second body face is normal to the first andsecond fence faces; and in the second position, the first body face iscoplanar to the first and second fence faces, and the second body faceis coplanar to the first and second fence faces.
 3. The carpenter toolof claim 1, further comprising: a first set of measurements along thesecond edge, the first set of measurements corresponding to a first zerolocation defined by the fence in the first position; and a second set ofmeasurements along the second edge, the second set of measurementscorresponding to a second zero location defined by the fence in thesecond position, wherein the second zero location is offset from thefirst zero location.
 4. The carpenter tool of claim 1, furthercomprising a hinge assembly pivoting the fence to the first edge.
 5. Thecarpenter tool of claim 4, wherein the hinge assembly includes a notchin one of the triangular body and the fence, and a tab projecting fromthe other of the triangular body and the fence, respectively, whereinthe tab is mounted in the notch for swinging movement within the notch.6. The carpenter tool of claim 5, wherein: the tab moves between aneutral stance and an advanced stance; in the neutral stance, the tabdisables movement of the fence between the first and second positions;and in the advanced stance, the tab enables movement of the fencebetween the first and second positions.
 7. The carpenter tool of claim6, wherein the tab moves reciprocally between the neutral and advancedstances.
 8. A carpenter tool comprising: a triangular body including ahypotenuse edge opposite a right corner, a first edge extending betweenthe right corner and the hypotenuse edge, and a second edge extendingbetween the right corner and the hypotenuse edge opposite the firstedge; a fence pivoted to the first edge for movement between first andsecond positions; a first set of measurements along the second edge, thefirst set of measurements corresponding to a first zero location definedby the fence in the first position; and a second set of measurementsalong the second edge, the second set of measurements corresponding to asecond zero location defined by the fence in the second position,wherein the second zero location is offset from the first zero location.9. The carpenter tool of claim 8, wherein: in the first position of thefence, the fence is normal to the triangular body; and in the secondposition of the fence, the fence is coplanar to the triangular body. 10.The carpenter tool of claim 8, wherein: the triangular body includesopposed first and second body faces, and the fence includes opposedfirst and second fence faces; in the first position of the fence, thefirst body face is normal to the first fence face, and the second bodyface is normal to the second fence face; and in the second position ofthe fence, the first body face is coplanar to the first fence face, andthe second body face is coplanar to the second fence face.
 11. Thecarpenter tool of claim 8, further comprising a hinge assembly pivotingthe fence to the first edge.
 12. The carpenter tool of claim 11, whereinthe hinge assembly includes a notch in one of the triangular body andthe fence, and a tab projecting from the other of the triangular bodyand the fence, respectively, wherein the tab is mounted in the notch forswinging movement within the notch corresponding to the first and secondpositions of the fence.
 13. The carpenter tool of claim 12, wherein: thetab moves between a neutral stance and an advanced stance; in theneutral stance, the tab disables movement of the fence between the firstand second positions; and in the advanced stance, the tab enablesmovement of the fence between the first and second positions.
 14. Thecarpenter tool of claim 13, wherein the tab moves reciprocally betweenthe neutral and advanced stances.
 15. A carpenter tool comprising: abody including a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, whereinthe first, second, and third edges cooperate to define a perimeter edgeof the body; a fence pivoted to the first edge for movement betweenfirst and second positions; in the first position, the fence is normalto the body; and in the second position, the fence is coplanar to thebody.
 16. The carpenter tool of claim 15, wherein: the body includesopposed first and second body faces, and the fence includes opposedfirst and second fence faces; in the first position of the fence, thefirst body face is normal to the first fence face; and in the secondposition of the fence, the first body face is coplanar to the firstfence face.
 17. The carpenter tool of claim 15, further comprising: afirst set of measurements along the second edge, the first set ofmeasurements corresponding to a first zero location defined by the fencein the first position; and a second set of measurements along the secondedge, the second set of measurements corresponding to a second zerolocation defined by the fence in the second position, wherein the secondzero location is offset from the first zero location.
 18. The carpentertool of claim 15, further comprising a hinge assembly pivoting the fenceto the first edge.
 19. The carpenter tool of claim 18, wherein the hingeassembly includes a notch in one of the body and the fence, and a tabprojecting from the other of the body and the fence, respectively,wherein the tab is mounted in the notch for movement within the notchwhen the fence moves between the first and second positions.
 20. Thecarpenter tool of claim 19, wherein: the tab moves between a neutralstance and an advanced stance; in the neutral stance, the tab disablesmovement of the fence between the first and second positions; and in theadvanced stance, the tab enables movement of the fence between the firstand second positions.